§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time was from arrest to sentence of persistent young offenders at the magistrates courts in Barnet in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [129278]
§ Mr. Charles Clarke[holding answer 6 July 2000]: The average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders sentenced at Barnet magistrates court is estimated to have been 100 days in the period April 1999 to March 2000. This estimate is based on data collated by the Lord Chancellor's Department. It is calculated from the average time from charge to sentence for persistent young offenders sentenced at Barnet magistrates court between April 1999 and March 2000 and on the police force level results of a survey on the average time between arrest and charge for persistent young offenders dealt with in 1999. The figure excludes any cases that were dealt with at Barnet magistrates court but were committed to the Crown Court for trial or sentence. It is based on only 19 sentencing occasions and therefore should be interpreted cautiously.