HC Deb 15 November 1989 vol 160 c267W
Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total prison population in(a) England, and (b) Wales, in each of the years since 1980.

Mr. Mellor

[holding answer 6 November 1989]: The readily available information is given in the table.

Population in custody in England and Wales on 30 June, 1980–89
30 June Year Prison Service establishments Police cells All persons in custody
England Wales1
1980 42,908 1,028 43,936
1981 43,398 1,063 44,461
1982 42,915 1,085 54 44,054
1983 42,339 987 300 43,626
1984 43,537 896 22 44,455
1985 46,518 985 96 47,599
1986 45,716 919 181 46,816
1987 49,202 1,063 581 50,846
1988 48,568 1,010 724 50,302
1989 47,652 880 226 48,758
1 Cardiff, Swansea and Usk (Prescoed)

Table A
Persons sentenced to immediate custody1 by court England and Wales 1988
Immediate custody
Court Total sentenced Number per cent.
Magistrates' 1,456,925 23,729 2
Crown 98,435 48,336 49
All courts 1,555,360 72,065 5
1 Includes both summary and indictable offences.

Table B
Persons committed for sentencing to the Crown Court 1988 and defendants sentenced to immediate custody at the Crown Court after summary conviction 1988
England and Wales
Court Committed for sentence to Crown Court Crown Court
Total for sentence Immediate custody
Number per cent.
Magistrates' 7,362 1 1 1
Crown 1 7,382 4,113 56
1 Not applicable.

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