HC Deb 17 February 1992 vol 204 cc16-7W
Mr. Lawrence

To ask the Attorney-General how many criminal cases were brought to trial in(a) the magistrates courts and (b) the Crown courts in each of the past five years; how many of them resulted in pleas of guilty; and how many which involved not guilty pleas resulted in acquittal.

The Attorney-General

Tables 1 to 3 give the information that is currently available. Table 1 shows the number of defendants proceeded against at the magistrates courts from 1986 to 1990, the latest available. The figures for the number of pleas of guilty are not separately collected. Tables 2 and 3 give the information for cases and defendants dealt with at the Crown court in the years 1987 to 1991. The information provided comes from two different sources, each using different definitions and collection mechanisms. As a consequence, the figures in tables 2 and 3 are not directly comparable with those in table 1.

Table 1
Defendants dealt with summarily at magistrates' courts in England and Wales1
Thousands
Summary offences Indictable offences triable either way
2 Acquitted 3 Convicted 2 Acquitted 3 Convicted Total
1986 183 1,510 54 308 2,052
1987 166 1,168 60 300 1,695
1988 175 1,169 65 295 1,705
1989 197 1,192 67 256 1,712
19904 222 1,169 74 262 1,727
1 Source: Home Office.
2 Charge withdrawn or dismissed (ie the court after hearing the evidence, decide the defendant is not guilty).
3 Includes pleas of guilty.
4 Provisional.

Cases dealt with at the Crown court in England and Wales1
Guilty plea Not guilty plea 1Other Total
1987 59,218 28,006 8,973 96,197
1988 68,389 26,820 9,564 104,773
1989 64,570 26,830 9,832 101,232
1990 63,588 26,177 10,240 100,005
31991 62,319 27,432 11,632 101,383

Table 3
Defendants dealt with at the Crown Court in England and Wales1
Plea
Not guilty to all counts Not guilty to some counts
Guilty plea Acquitted2 Convicted Acquitted2 Convicted Other3 Total
1987 86,555 15,560 15,475 790 2,233 12,344 132,957
1988 95,866 17,542 14,507 792 1,760 13,004 143,471
1989 89,361 17,517 13,827 993 2,202 13,085 136,985
1990 86,845 17,241 12,752 1,012 1,978 13,862 133,690
41991 82,305 17,663 12,701 1,460 2,595 15,440 132,164
1 Source: Lord Chancellor's Department.
2 Jury acquittals, descharges by the judge (not guilty to all those counts where not guilty plea entered only) and acquittals directed by the judge).
3 Bench warrants issued, no plea recorded, indictment to lie on file, found unfit to plead and other results.
4 Provisional and liable to revision in the future.