§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the total number of people(a) killed and (b) injured as a result of crimes committed by prisoners who were subsequently successful in their application for an accelerated release date. [91439]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 15 July 1999]: This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners who successfully applied to the Prison Sentences Review Commission for an accelerated release date have reoffended since their release; and what was the nature of their new offences. [91437]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 15 July 1999]: Three of the 280 prisoners who successfully applied for accelerated release to the independent Sentences Review Commission, and who have now been released from prison, have since reoffended. The nature of the charges against two of the three includes assault against police officers and breach of the peace; Grievous Bodily Harm with intent; Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm; and Affray. The third person was convicted of receiving stolen goods and of deception. None of the three has broken the terms of their licence conditions.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list, for each prisoner who successfully applied to the Prison Sentences Review Commission for an accelerated release date, the nature of their offence, the term of imprisonment to which they were sentenced, and the term of imprisonment that they served prior to their release. [91451]
338W
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 15 July 1999]: The information requested is not readily available in the format in which it has been requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However of the 424 successful applications that have been made to the Sentences Review Commission for an accelerated release date, (282 determinate sentence prisoners and 142 indeterminate sentence prisoners), a total of 280 prisoners (190 determinate sentence prisoners and 90 determinate sentence prisoners) have been released.
As per section 4(1) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, of the 190 determinate sentence prisoners who have been released all have served at least one third of their sentence, and in some cases in excess of one third had been served before they were released. Again, as per section 6(1) of the 1998 Act, of the 90 indeterminate sentence prisoners who have been released, all have served at least two thirds of the period they could otherwise have been expected to serve, and in some cases in excess of two thirds had been served before they were released.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners have to date applied to the Prison Sentences Review Commission for an accelerated release date; in how many cases the Commission made a determination; and, for unsuccessful applications, what reasons were given. [91440]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 15 July 1999]: A total of 518 prisoners have to date applied to the Sentences Review Commission for an accelerated release date. The Commissioners have issued determinations in 440 cases. Of those applications that have been unsuccessful, the reasons given are that the Commissioners are not satisfied that the offences were committed in connection with terrorism and the affairs of Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of prisoners who successfully applied to the Prison Sentences Review Commission for an accelerated release date were released having served less than(a) a quarter and (b) one half of their sentence. [91438]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 15 July 1999]: A total of 280 prisoners have to date been released in accordance with the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, of which 190 were serving fixed term sentences. No fixed term prisoners who successfully applied to the Sentences Review Commission were released early having served less than a quarter of their sentence. All 190 fixed term prisoners released early would have served less than one half of their sentence at the time of accelerated release.
A total of 90 indeterminate sentence prisoners have also been released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.