§ Lord Hardy of Wathasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many police officers were injured on duty in England and during each of the last five years; and how many of those responsible for those injuries did not receive a custodial sentence upon conviction of that offence. [HL658]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonUntil the Police (Health and Safety) Regulations 1999 came into force on 14 April 1999, police forces were not required by law to record the number of injuries sustained by police officers although prior to that date forces had for several years forwarded such information to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on a voluntary basis. The HSE has complete data for the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99. Table 1 therefore records the number of injuries to police officers in England in those financial years.
Table 1—Injuries to Police Officers, England 1997–98 1998–99 Struck by moving, flying or falling object 134 154 Struck by moving vehicle 52 73 Strike against something fixed or stationary 83 94 Injured whilst handling, lifting or carrying 238 326 Slip, trip or fall on same level 326 324 Falls from height 87 103 Exposed to or contact with harmful substance 21 36 Injured by an animal 35 51 Injuries caused by assault or violence 527 448 Other kind of accident 184 160 Totals 1,687 1,769 Source:
Health and Safety Executive.
Table 2 records the number of persons cautioned, defendants prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted and sentenced at all courts for offences of assaults on police officers in England in each of the calendar years from 1994 to 1998.
30WA
Table 2 Offence and disposal 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Cautioned 1,511 1,410 1,618 1,609 1,528 Prosecuted 13,908 14,297 1,618 14,837 14,263 Convicted 9,430 9,774 9,765 10,367 10,210 Sentenced of which given: 9,420 9,767 9,761 10,375 10,214 Non-custodial sentence 8,405 8,564 8,544 9,152 8,934 Immediate custody 1,015 1,203 1,217 1,223 1,280 Source:
Research, Development and Statistics, Home Office.