§ 33. Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Attorney-General what representations he has received concerning the length of time between the arrest and conviction of offenders; and if he will make a statement. [51721]
The Attorney-GeneralI have not received any representations on this subject. The Lord Chancellor's Department and the Court Service collect statistics on the time taken by cases dealt with in the magistrates' courts and the Crown Court respectively. The latest figures show a decrease in the time taken from charge or summons to completion for defendants in indictable—including triable either way—cases in magistrates' courts, and a slight increase in disposal times in the Crown Court for cases committed for trial.
The Crime and Disorder Bill includes measures to reduce delay throughout the whole process.