§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were charged with wasting police time, other than by making malicious complaints against the police, in each constabulary area in England and Wales during each year from 1996 to 1998. [75904]
§ Mr. BoatengThere is no offence of making a malicious complaint against the police, but a person may commit an offence under section 5(2) of the Criminal Law 497W Act 1967 where he or she causes wasteful employment of the police by giving false information to them. Information is available centrally only on the number of people cautioned, prosecuted or convicted for an offence under section 5(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1967.
In 1996 in England and Wales, there were 134 cautions, 60 prosecutions and 44 convictions for an offence under section 5(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1967. In 1997, there were 95 cautions, 71 prosecutions, and 56 convictions for the same offence.
§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of man/days identified as having been spent in the investigation of(a) malicious complaints and (b) false information within each constabulary area in England and Wales during each year from 1996 to 1998. [75903]
§ Mr. BoatengThe information requested is not recorded centrally.