§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the longest term of imprisonment imposed by the courts on an individual found guilty of perjury since 1979; [5501]
(2) how many persons have been prosecuted and found guilty of perjury in each year since 1979. [5502]
576W
§ Mr. MichaelThe longest term of imprisonment imposed at the Crown Court since 1979 for an offence of perjury is five years (given in 1987 and 1989).
Prosecution and conviction data are shown in the table:
Number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted1 at all courts for offences of perjury2,1979–1995 England and Wales Year Prosecuted Convicted1 1979 149 135 1980 158 174 1981 146 145 1982 148 131 1983 147 139 1984 161 186 1985 166 162 1986 124 124 1987 183 167 1988 220 203 1989 226 195 1990 176 160 1991 217 166 1992 212 164 1993 198 150 1994 198 144 1995 232 193 1 Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years or for other offences. 2 An offence under the Perjury Act 1911 and Criminal Justice Act 1925, Sec. 36, Criminal Justice Act 1967 Sec. 89, Mines and Quarries (Tips) Act 1969 Sec.12(2) (in part), Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 Sec. 106, Mental Health Act 1983 Sec. 126(4), County Courts Act 1984 Sec. 133, and Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sec. 75.