HC Deb 19 January 1998 vol 304 cc380-1W
Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average determinate sentence of imprisonment or detention in a young offender institution received by offenders convicted of the supply, importation or production of Class A controlled drugs in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; [23123]

(2) how many offenders convicted of offences related to the supply, importation or production of Class A controlled drugs received (a) a life sentence, (b) a determinate sentence of imprisonment and (c) a non-custodial sentence in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [23124]

Mr. Michael

[holding answer 15 January 1998]: The offences referred to cover a wide range of circumstances and seriousness. Some cases may attract a caution if the offender has admitted guilt and the police decide that the offence is at the lower end of seriousness. On conviction, the maximum sentence available to the court for these offences is life imprisonment.

Table 1 shows the respective number of offenders cautioned, given a non-custodial sentence and given a custodial sentence since 1993. Table 2 shows the average sentence lengths given to those given a custodial sentence. Prior to 1993, information held centrally for offences of supply and production does not identify controlled drugs by type or class.

Table 2: Average sentence lengths1 given for the offences of

supply, importation2 or production of a Class A controlled drug

by type of custodial sentence and court, 1993–1996

England and Wales
Average sentence length1 (months)
Type of court/type of sentence/year Supply of a Class A controlled drug Importation2 Production of a Class A controlled drug
Magistrates' courts Young Offender Institution
1993 2.3 2.3
1994 3.3 3.4
1995
1996 4.0 6.0 3.0
Unsuspended sentence of imprisonment
1993 3.9 3.7
1994 3.0 3.1
1995 3.1 2.7 3.5
1996 2.9 3.2
Crown Court Young Offender Institution
1993 20.1 29.2
1994 27.5 41.1
1995 24.8 38.5
1996 27.6 40.0
Unsuspended sentence of imprisonment
1993 40.1 54.1 24.3
1994 41.3 52.4 31.8
1995 41.3 61.7 39.1
1996 41.5 65.8 42.2
All courts Young Offender Institution
1993 19.5 28.4
1994 25.4 38.9
1995 24.8 38.5
1996 26.6 38.6 3.0
Unsuspended sentence of imprisonment
1993 39.3 53.2 24.3
1994 41.1 51.5 31.8
1995 40.3 60.0 35.9
1996 41.0 64.8 42.2
1 Excludes Life sentences.
2 Importation of any controlled drug—cannot identify by class type.