Defendants (Hansard, 11 June 1999)

§ Mr. Beith
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many, and what percentage of, criminal prosecutions were completed in(a) magistrates' courts, and (b) higher courts, in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [86122]

§ Mr. Boateng
Information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database is given in the table.
426W

Number and percentage¹ of defendants proceeded against for all offences where case was completed by type of court, England and Wales, 1993–97

Thousand and percentage

Year Defendants where proceeding completed in magistrats' court² Defendants tried in the Crown Court

1993

Number 1,870.3 83.1

Percentage 96 4

427W

Number and percentage¹ of defendants proceeded against for all offences where case was completed by type of court, England and Wales, 1993–97

Thousand and percentage

year Defendants where proceeding completed in magistrate' courts² Defendants tried in the Crown Court

1994

Number 1,858.5 85.9

Percentage 96 4

1995

Number 1,757.3 89.0

Percentage 95 5

1996

Number 1,838.2 85.9

Percentage 96 4

1997

Number 1,76.7 91.3

Percentage 95 5

¹Rates as a proportion of those cases completed at both magistrates' courts and the Crown Court. ² Excluding defendants committed for trial.

§ Mr. Clappison
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many indictable offences have been dealt with by either magistrates courts or the Crown Court serving(a) Croydon, (b) Gloucester and (c) Liverpool since 30 September 1998. [85763]

Number of persons convicted of offences involving the supply or possession of drugs at (a) Liverpool, (b) Croydon and (c) Gloucester magistrates' courts and Crown Court Centres by type of offence, October-December 1998¹, January-March 1999¹

Court Period Possession of a controlled drug Supply of a controlled drug Possession with intent to supply a controlled drug

Magistrates' courts

(a) Liverpool October-December 1998 240 18 27

(b) Croydon October-December 1998 78 2 8

(c) Gloucester October-December 1998 28 1 2

Crown Court

(a) Liverpool October-December 1998 22 26 28

January-March 1999 18 44 28

(b) Croydon October-December 1998 5 6 15

January-March 1999 5 12 18

(c) Gloucester October-December 1998 — — 4

January-March 1999 2 1 2 ¹Provisional

Number and percentage¹ of defendants proceeded against for all offences where case was completed by type of court, England and Wales, 1993–97
Thousand and percentage
Year	Defendants where proceeding completed in magistrats' court²	Defendants tried in the Crown Court
1993
Number	1,870.3	83.1
Percentage	96	4

Number of persons convicted of offences involving the supply or possession of drugs at (a) Liverpool, (b) Croydon and (c) Gloucester magistrates' courts and Crown Court Centres by type of offence, October-December 1998¹, January-March 1999¹
Court	Period	Possession of a controlled drug	Supply of a controlled drug	Possession with intent to supply a controlled drug
Magistrates' courts
(a) Liverpool	October-December 1998	240	18	27
(b) Croydon	October-December 1998	78	2	8
(c) Gloucester	October-December 1998	28	1	2
Crown Court
(a) Liverpool	October-December 1998	22	26	28
	January-March 1999	18	44	28
(b) Croydon	October-December 1998	5	6	15
	January-March 1999	5	12	18
(c) Gloucester	October-December 1998	—	—	4
	January-March 1999	2	1	2	¹Provisional