§ Mr. HicksTo ask the Attorney-General how many cases were considered by the Crown Prosecution Service for prosecution in the last 12-month period for which figures are available; what number and percentage of cases were actually prosecuted; what number and percentage of convictions were obtained for England and Wales; and what are the corresponding figures for the Devon and Cornwall area.
Table A: Magistrates' court Column 1 Completed Cases Column 2 Prosecutions Dropped Column 3 Bind Overs Column 4 Prosecutions could not proceed Column 5 Committal Hearings Column 6 Hearings Column 7 Convictions Column 8 Dismissals CPS 1,362,277 175,025 23,920 175,025 103,299 950,676 935,044 21,953 Total (per cent.) — (12.8) (1.7) (12.8) (7.7) (69.8) (97.7) (2.3) CPS 69,968 8,535 610 4,034 5,099 51,690 51,087 839 South West (per cent.) — (12.2) (0.9) (5.8) 7.3) (73.9) (98.4) (1.6) The number of completed cases at column 1 does not include cases referred to the CPS by the police for pre-charge advice, or non-criminal proceedings. Convictions at column 7 are inclusive of guilty pleas as well as convictions after trial. Both convictions and dismissals are inclusive of cases proceeding to a hearing after the defendant offered mixed pleas of guilty to some counts and not guilty to others: these defendants are counted twice.
Table B: Crown Court Column 1 Completed cases Column 2 Hearings Per cent. Column 3 Convictions Per cent. Column 4 Acquittals Per cent. CPS total 95,600 84,608 (88.5) 78,156 (90.1) 8,620 (9.9) CPS South West 5,647 5,028 (89.0) 4,762 (92.1) 409 (7.9) Completed cases at column 1 do not include appeals or committals for sentence.
Hearings at column 2 do not include proceedings in which the defendant was bound over to keep the peace; prosecutions dropped by the CPS before the jury was sworn; or cases in which the prosecution could not proceed because the defendant had died, could not be traced, or was found unfit to plead.
Convictions are inclusive of guilty pleas. The figures for convictions and acquittals include cases proceeding to a hearing after the defendant offered a mix of guilty pleas to some counts on the indictment, and not guilty to others: these defendants are counted twice.
The national totals given comprise the 13 CPS areas, but do not include the specialised casework undertaken by the headquarters of the service.
§ Mr. HicksTo ask the Attorney-General what guidance is given to the Crown Prosecution Service as to whether it should proceed with a prosecution; and if he will make a statement.
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§ The Attorney-GeneralFigures for prosecutions in Devon and Cornwall are included in the total for CPS South West, and cannot be given separately. The latest period for which figures are available is the year ending December 1993.
Table A shows at column 1 the number of defendants whose case was completed by the CPS in magistrates' courts during 1993; at column 2 the number and proportion of prosecutions dropped; at column 3 the number and proportion of bind overs; at column 4 the number and proportion of prosecutions which could not proceed; at column 5 the number and proportion of committal hearings; at column 6 the number and proportion proceeding to a hearing; at column 7 the number and proportion of hearings resulting in conviction; and at column 8 the number and proportion of hearings resulting in dismissal:
Table B shows at column 1 defendants whose case was completed by the CPS in the Crown court during 1993; at column 2 those proceeding to a hearing; at column 3 those resulting in conviction, and at column 4 those resulting in acquittal:
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe criteria set out in the code for Crown prosecutors are that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, and a prosecution is required in the public interest.
The charges should reflect the gravity of the defendant's conduct and will normally be the most serious revealed by the evidence.