§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the percentage of crimes which were committed by people with mental and psychological problems in the last year for which figures are available. [38526]
§ Mr. MichaelThe information requested is not available centrally. National statistics about offenders are categorised in terms of the type of offence committed rather than the mental and psychological problems of the offenders. The information that is held on those offenders relates to convictions and not crimes committed. No information is held on the perpetrators of crimes for which no one is convicted.
449WAmongst studies which have been carried out into the prevalence of mental health problems, it has been estimated that around 28,000 prisoners, both sentenced and on remand, currently have mental health problems ('Mental Disorder in Remand Prisoners' by Maden, Taylor, Brooke and Gunn and 'Mentally Disordered Prisoners' by Gunn, Maden and Swinton). The figure of 28,000 covers a very wide definition of mental health. Most of these cases would not be severe enough to warrant detention in hospital for treatment. In addition, there is no information available which can aid in assessing what proportion of these cases existed prior to admission into prison.
Information is available on offenders who are admitted to hospitals under the provisions of mental health legislation. In 1996, the number of mentally disordered offenders admitted to hospital under a court order or by direction of the Home Secretary restricting their discharge was 1,057. A further 717 offenders were given hospital orders by the courts without such a restriction.