§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) arrests, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions have been recorded under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 in Wales since its introduction, broken down by local authority; and if he will make a statement. [5704]
§ Mr. MichaelI have been asked to reply.
Information on the number of people arrested for specific offences is not collected centrally.
Information on court proceedings under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, which came into force on 29 April 1996, will first become available this autumn. That information will be by police force area and not by local authority area.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) arrests, (b) prosecutions and (C) convictions have been recorded under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 in Wales in each year since 1992, broken down by local authority; and if he will make a statement. [5707]
§ Mr. MichaelI have been asked to reply.
Information on the number of people arrested for specific offences is not collected centrally.
Available court proceedings data, by police force area, are given in the table below. 1996 information will be available in the autumn.
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Number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for offences under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 by type of offence and police force area 1992–95 Sections 1 to 5 and 101 1992 1993 1994 1995 Police force area Pros Con Pros Con Pros Con Pros Con North Yorkshire — — 7 2 — — 1 1 Northumbria 2 2 — — — — 3 3 Nottinghamshire — — — — — — 2 2 South Yorkshire 2 — 3 2 — — — — Staffordshire — — 1 — 2 — 8 6 Suffolk — — 1 — — — — — Surrey — — — — — — — — Sussex 1 — 6 1 3 3 — — Warwickshire — — — — — — — — West Mercia 9 7 2 — 4 4 2 2 West Yorkshire 1 1 2 1 7 3 — — Wiltshire — — 1 — — — — — England 42 23 46 20 32 22 33 21 Dyfed Powys 2 2 — — — — 5 3 Gwent — — — — — — — — North Wales 3 3 2 2 7 5 3 3 South Wales 3 — — — — — — — Wales 8 5 2 2 7 5 8 6 England and Wales 50 28 48 22 39 27 41 27 1 Offences of cruelty to badgers and special protection for badgers and their setts. 152W153W
Number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for offences under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 by type of offence and police force area 1992–95 Section 131 1992 1993 1994 1995 Police force area Pros Con Pros Con Pros Con Pros Con Avon and Somerset — — — — — — — — Cheshire — — — — — — — — Cleveland 1 1 — — — — — — Cumbria — — — — — — — — Derbyshire — — — — — — — — Devon and Cornwall 1 1 1 1 1 1 — — Dorset — — — — — — — — Essex — — — — 1 1 — — Gloucestershire — — — — — — — — Greater Manchester 1 1 — — 2 2 — — Hampshire — — — — — — — — Hertfordshire — — — — — — — — Humberside — — — — — — — — Kent — — 2 2 — — — — Lancashire — — — — — — — — Leicestershire — — — — — — — — Lincolnshire — — — — — — — — Merseyside — — 1 — — — — — Metropolitan Police — — 2 — 1 — — — Norfolk — — — — 1 1 — — North Yorkshire — — — — — — — — Northumbria — — — — — — — — Nottinghamshire — — — — — — 1 — South Yorkshire — — — — — — — — Staffordshire 1 1 — — — — 1 1 Suffolk — — — — 1 1 — — Surrey — — — — — — 2 2 Sussex 2 1 — — 1 1 — — Warwickshire — — — — 1 — — — West Mercia 1 1 6 6 — — 1 1 West Yorkshire 4 2 — — 1 1 1 1 Wiltshire — — — — — — — — England 11 8 12 9 10 8 6 5
Number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for offences under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 by type of offence and police force area 1992–95 Section 131 1992 1993 1994 1995 Police force area Pros Con Pros Con Pros Con Pros Con Dyfed Powys — — — — 1 — 1 1 Gwent 1 1 — — — — — — North Wales — — — — — — — — South Wales — — — — — — — — Wales 1 1 — — 1 — 1 1 England and Wales 12 9 12 9 11 8 7 6 1 Offence of failing to give up dog for destruction or having custody of a dog while disqualified (Powers of court where dog used or present at commission of offence under Sections 1, 2 or 3 of the Act). Pros = Prosecutions, Con = Convictions.