§ The Earl of Listowelasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the estimated number of people in recent years who have been murdered or seriously injured by those with severe personality disorder. [HL4064]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonInformation in the form requested is not held centrally.
The recent report Safer Services published by the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by people with Mental Illness shows that in England and Wales in the 18 month period from April 1996, 718 persons were convicted of homicide. In 500 of these cases a psychiatric report was available: 220 of the 500 persons had been diagnosed as suffering from a mental disorder during their lifetimes, of which 47 were diagnosed as having a personality disorder.
Similar information in relation to Scotland is not available and for Northern Ireland is not readily available, nor is information in relation to those convicted of causing serious injury.