HC Deb 29 November 1995 vol 267 cc690-1W
Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list for(a) each court circuit in Wales, (b) for Wales as a whole and (c) for England for each of the last three years for which figures are available: (i) the number of cases submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service by the police for consideration of bringing proceedings, (ii) the number of prosecutions brought by the Crown Prosecution Service and (iii) the figures in (ii) expressed as a percentage of (i); and if he will make a statement. [1090]

The Attorney-General

The tables of figures show the number of cases received from the police and those dealt with by the Crown Prosecution Service during the last three years, for Wales and for England. The figures comprise proceedings in the magistrates courts, but do not include the specialised casework handled by the headquarters of the service. No figures are held for individual court circuits.

The percentage of cases discontinued, expressed as a proportion of those dealt with, was:

Wales percentage England percentage
Year ending September 1993 11.8 13.5
Year ending September 1994 11.1 11.9
Year ending September 1995 12.1 11.9

CPS England Magistrates' Courts cases
Of which
Received Dealt with1 Completed in Magistrates' Courts Discontinued Committed to Crown Court Other disposals2
Year ending September 1995 1,293,999 1,243,964 861,904 147,561 89,566 144,933
1Cases dealt with comprise all those completed, excluding advice cases and non criminal proceedings.
2Other disposals comprise committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, cases in which the defendant was bound over to keep the peace, instances where the defendant could not be found, and other cases in which the prosecution could not proceed (e.g., through the death of the defendant).
CPS Wales Magistrates' Courts cases
Of which
Received Dealt with1 Completed in Magistrates' Courts Discontinued Committed to Crown Court Other disposals2
Year ending September 1993 105,328 105,407 72,623 12,401 6,144 14,239
Year ending September 1994 100,736 95,759 65,521 10,645 5,698 13,895
Year ending September 1995 95,815 90,826 63,442 11,033 5,662 10,689
1 Cases dealt with comprise all those completed, excluding advice cases and non criminal proceedings.
2 Other disposals comprise committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, cases in which the defendant was bound over to keep the peace, instances where the defendant could not be found, and other cases in which the prosecution could not proceed (e.g., through the death of the defendant).