Fine Defaulters (Hansard, 17 January 1994)

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average prison sentence imposed for defaulting on a fine; what is the average period actually spent in prison by such a defaulter in Scotland; and what is the average cost of such a person's imprisonment.

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
The average sentence imposed in 1992 for defaulting on a fine was 23 days. The 405W average time spent in prison by a fine defaulter was an estimated 13 days and the estimated average cost of the person's imprisonment was £970.

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were sentenced to a prison term under each offence category in the latest year for which figures are available; and what number and percentage of the total were fine defaulters.

Receptions to Scottish Penal Establishments in 1992 by Crime and Offence

Crime/offence classification Total receptions Fine defaulter receptions Fine defaulter¹ receptions as a percentage of total receptions

Total crimes & offences 19,923 8,339 42

Total crimes: sub total 12,388 4,044 33

Non-sexual crimes of violence: sub total 1,218 66 5

Homicide 80 2 3

Serious assault etc 718 30 4

Handling offensive weapons 31 12 39

Robbery 354 15 4

Other 35 7 20

Crimes of indencency: sub total 328 158 48

Sexual assault 70 2 3

Lewd & libidinous practices 81 5 6

Other 177 151 85

Crimes of dishonesty: sub total 9,020 3,024 34

Housebreaking 2,345 489 21

Theft by opening lockfast places 547 193 35

Theft of a motor vehicle 825 229 28

Other theft 3,992 1,619 41

Fraud 321 143 45

Other 990 351 35

Fire-raising, vandalism etc: sub total 371 215 58

Fire-raising 41 7 17

Vandalism etc 330 208 63

Other crimes: sub total 1,451 581 40

Crimes against public justice 773 317 41

Drugs offences 651 262 40

Other 27 2 7

Total offences: sub total 7,535 4,295 57

Miscellaneous offences: sub total 5,364 2,994 56

Petty assault 1,082 480 44

Breach of the peace 3,796 2,197 58

Drunkeness 228 139 61

Other 258 178 69

Motor vehicle offences: sub total 2,171 1,301 60

Reckless & careless driving 147 88 60

Drunk driving 390 245 63

Speeding 18 15 83

Unlawful use of vehicle 1,525 873 57

Vehicle defect offences 15 15 100

Other 76 65 86

Receptions to Scottish Penal Establishments in 1992 by Crime and Offence
Crime/offence classification	Total receptions	Fine defaulter receptions	Fine defaulter¹ receptions as a percentage of total receptions
Total crimes & offences	19,923	8,339	42
Total crimes: sub total	12,388	4,044	33
Non-sexual crimes of violence: sub total	1,218	66	5
Homicide	80	2	3
Serious assault etc	718	30	4
Handling offensive weapons	31	12	39
Robbery	354	15	4
Other	35	7	20
Crimes of indencency: sub total	328	158	48
Sexual assault	70	2	3
Lewd & libidinous practices	81	5	6
Other	177	151	85
Crimes of dishonesty: sub total	9,020	3,024	34
Housebreaking	2,345	489	21
Theft by opening lockfast places	547	193	35
Theft of a motor vehicle	825	229	28
Other theft	3,992	1,619	41
Fraud	321	143	45
Other	990	351	35
Fire-raising, vandalism etc: sub total	371	215	58
Fire-raising	41	7	17
Vandalism etc	330	208	63
Other crimes: sub total	1,451	581	40
Crimes against public justice	773	317	41
Drugs offences	651	262	40
Other	27	2	7
Total offences: sub total	7,535	4,295	57
Miscellaneous offences: sub total	5,364	2,994	56
Petty assault	1,082	480	44
Breach of the peace	3,796	2,197	58
Drunkeness	228	139	61
Other	258	178	69
Motor vehicle offences: sub total	2,171	1,301	60
Reckless & careless driving	147	88	60
Drunk driving	390	245	63
Speeding	18	15	83
Unlawful use of vehicle	1,525	873	57
Vehicle defect offences	15	15	100
Other	76	65	86