§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average length of time between charge and verdict for(a) all offenders and (b) young offenders, in each of the most recent five years for which records are available. [50065]
§ Mr. HoonThe exact information requested is not available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. The nearest information available is given in the table.
The majority of criminal cases are completed in magistrates' courts. From a survey of approximately 4,000 defendants (450 youth defendants) each year the average time from charge/summons to completion in the magistrates' courts is as follows:
Sample size Average time from charge/summons to completion (weeks) All defendants 1993 4,435 15.2 1994 4,092 16 1995 4,161 16.8 1996 3,551 17 1997 3,704 17.2 Youth defendants 1993 335 15.2 1994 415 16.2 1995 567 17.2 1996 447 17 1997 524 17 Cases in the Crown Court are committed there by the magistrates' courts. From a survey of approximately 4,000 defendants (200 youth defendants) each year, the average time from charge/summons to committal to the Crown Court is as follows:
278W
Sample size Average time from charge/summons to committal (weeks) All defendants 1993 4,431 14.5 1994 4,034 15 1995 3,836 15.2 1996 3,993 15.1 1997 4,450 15.8
Sample size Average time from charge/summons to committal (weeks) Youth defendants 1993 61 12.7 1994 122 15 1995 102 14.4 1996 140 14 1997 214 15.2 The average time from committal to the Crown Court to the start of the main hearing is as follows:
All defendants Average time from date of committal to start of main hearing (weeks) 1993 12 1994 13.1 1995 16.1 1996 16.7 1997 16.2 Note:
This information includes all cases in the Crown Court, but is not available for youth defendants