HC Deb 17 May 1994 vol 243 cc381-3W
Mr. David Young

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cars have been stolen in each region in England since the passage of the Aggravated Vehicle Taking Act 1992; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

The information available relates to theft of all motor vehicles and is contained in the following table.

Offences of theft of motor vehicles, April 1992 to December 1993, by region
Region 1Number of thefts of vehicles
North West 170,425
North East 217,875
Midlands 112,905
Eastern 107,749
South East 294,835
South West 78,677
1 Offences of aggravated vehicle taking and theft of a vehicle recorded by the police.

Mr. David Young

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been made under the charge of aggravated vehicle taking in each region of England; how many have been successful; what has been the average sentence in successful prosecutions in each region; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

Information for 1992 is given in the tables. 1993 data will not be available until the autumn. We are monitoring carefully both prosecutions and penalties under this new provision. It is still too early to draw many conclusions but early indications are that this measure is providing a useful weapon in our armoury against car crime.

Table A

Number of defendants prosecuted, convicted and average custodial

sentence length given at magistrates' courts for aggravated vehicle

taking offences by region 1992

England

Offence/region Prosecutions Convictions Average custodial sentence length (months)
Indictable (triable either way)
Causing death by aggravated vehicle taking
North West 8 5
North East 1 1
Midlands 1
Eastern 6 1
South East 11 4 6
South West
ENGLAND 27 11 6
Aggravated vehicle taking—
injury to person, damage to property or car
North West 232 123 4
North East 448 259 4
Midlands 145 57 4
Eastern 251 131 4
South East 323 149 4
South West 56 24 4
ENGLAND 1,455 743 4
Offence/region Prosecutions Convictions Average custodial sentence length (months)
Summary
Aggravated vehicle taking—
criminal damage of £2,000 or under
North West 2 2
North East 7 4
Midlands 48 32 3
Eastern 67 42 5
South East 15 8
South West 49 33 5
ENGLAND 188 121 4

Table B

Number of offenders convicted and average custodial sentence length

given at the Crown Court for aggravated vehicle taking offences by

region 1992

England

Offence/Region Convictions Average custodial sentence length (months)
Indictable (triable either way)
Causing death by aggravated vehicle taking
North West 2 17
North East 5 18
Midlands
Eastern 1 5
South East
South West
ENGLAND 8 15
Aggravated vehicle taking—
injury to person, damage to property or car
North West 57 11
North East 93 11
Midlands 37 12
Eastern 55 10
South East 52 10
South West 30 10
ENGLAND 324 11
SUMMARY
Aggravated vehicle taking—
criminal damage of £2,000 or under
North West 16
North East
Midlands
Eastern 1
South East 1
South West
ENGLAND 2 6
1 Relates to one offender who was convicted at the magistrates' court but committed for sentence to the Crown Court.

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