§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the Great Britain totals for each year since 1975 of(a) murders reported to the police, (b) convictions for murder and (c) convictions for murder which have been set aside in England and Wales.
§ Mr. John PattenThe total number of homicides reported to the police in England and Wales for each year since 1975 is included in table 4.1 of "Criminal Statistics England and Wales 1989" a copy of which is in the Library. Figures for the number of homicide offences where there was a conviction for murder are shown in table 4.7(b) of the same publication; these figures take account of successful appeals against conviction.
The number of prisoners serving life sentences for murder in prison establishments in England and Wales whose appeal was upheld, who were given a free pardon or whose life sentence was remitted is shown for the period 1976 to 1990, by year of termination of the life sentence.
317W
Year of termination Successful appeal Free pardon/remission 1976 2 0 1977 4 0 1978 8 0
Year of termination Successful appeal Free pardon/remission 1979 4 1 1980 5 0 1981 3 0 1982 4 1 1983 0 1 1984 5 1 1985 7 2 1986 8 1 1987 5 0 1988 4 0 1989 12 2 1990 7 0 The information in the table is not readily available for 1975 and data for 1991 are not yet complete.