HC Deb 24 May 1990 vol 173 c281W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by year for the last 10 years, how many people have been wrongfully imprisoned; and what was their length of stay in custody.

Mr. John Patten

The tables give details of the cases referred to the Court of Appeal under section 17(1)(a) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 in respect of conviction, since 1980 (table I); and of free pardons (for convictions involving custody) (table II).

Table I References by the Home Secretary to the Court of Appeal under Section 17(1) (a) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 in respect of conviction
Years Number of cases referred Number of defendants Appeals allowed
1980 3 3 1
1981 1 1 0
1982 4 7 4
1983 3 3 3
1984 12 14 3
1985 4 4 2
1986 4 4 1
1987 6 13 3
1988 2 2 0
1989 13 6 2
Total 42 57 19
1 one to be heard

Table II Free Pardons (for convictions involving custody)
Number
1980 0
1981 1
1982 1
1983 0
1984 0
1985 0
1986 0
1987 0
1988 0
1989 0