HC Deb 27 July 2000 vol 354 cc883-5W
Miss Widdecombe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of the home detention curfew scheme(a) how many prisoners were released on the scheme, (b) how many prisoners convicted of each specific offence were released on the scheme, broken down by the offences committed, including the specific offences committed by prisoners normally classified under the categories (i) other homicide and attempted homicide, (ii) other violence against the person, (iii) drug offences, (iv) assaults, and (v) other offences, including a breakdown of the prisoners normally classified in the sub-category of other offences called other offences, (c) what the average sentence was (i) received and (ii) served, and what average period was spent on the scheme, in respect of each specific offence, (d) how many prisoners were released on the scheme, broken down by offences committed, who (i) breached the conditions of the curfew, (ii) disappeared and were recaptured, (iii) disappeared and remain unlawfully at large and (iv) had their licences revoked, and for what reasons, (e) what specific offences were committed by prisoners released on the scheme while on the scheme including all offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence and (f) what specific offences were committed by prisoners released on the scheme who committed a further offence while on the scheme that was similar in character to that for which they were originally convicted, including all offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence; and if he will make a statement. [131382]

Mr. Boateng

[holding answer 19 July 2000]The information provided in this answer is for the period up to 30 June 2000. As of that date, a total of 22,777 prisoners had been placed on Home Detention Curfew since the scheme commenced on 28 January 1999.

The original offences committed by prisoners released under the scheme during the period, the number of prisoners convicted of each specific offence, the average sentence received and served for those offences, and the average period spent on the scheme in respect of the prisoners convicted of each specific offence are shown in Table 1. The data are taken from the Prison Service's inmate information system based on the data recorded by each prison. The table provides as detailed a breakdown of offences as is possible from central records.

A total of 806 prisoners released on the scheme during the period breached the conditions of their curfew. A breakdown of this number showing the original offences committed is shown in Table 2.

Information on curfewees whose licences are revoked and who disappear before being recaptured is not held centrally. However, information is held on the number of curfewees unlawfully at large at any one time. On 30 June there were 41 curfewees who remained unlawfully at large. This represents fewer than 4 per cent. of the total number of revocations.

Details of the offences originally committed by those 41 curfewees who remained unlawfully at large on 30 June 2000 can be found in Table 3.

As of 30 June 2000, 1,095 curfewees had their licences revoked, using the powers available to the Secretary of State under Sections 38A(1) and 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. The reasons for revocation were as follows: a breach of the curfew (section 38A(1)a of the Criminal Justice Act 1991); the curfewee's whereabouts could no longer be electronically monitored (section 38A(1)b of the Criminal Justice Act 1991); it was necessary to protect the public from serious harm (section 38A(1)c of the Criminal Justice Act 1991); and the curfewee had committed an offence or breached any requirement of probation supervision (section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991). Curfewees who are charged with new offences may also be recalled on any of the preceding grounds depending on the circumstances of the case.

A breakdown of the original offences the 1,095 recalled curfewees committed together with a breakdown of the reasons for recall is at Table 4.

Table 5 gives a breakdown of all offences committed by prisoners placed on Home Detention Curfew while on the scheme. Where a curfewee has been charged with more than one offence, these have been shown separately.

Table 6 gives a breakdown of the specific offences committed by prisoners placed on the scheme who committed a further offence while on the scheme which was similar in character to the most serious offence for which they were originally convicted.

The scheme is designed to ensure a better transition for short-term offenders between custody and the community. Prisoners are placed on Home Detention Curfew only after a careful risk assessment and the safety of the public is paramount at all times.

Tables 1–6 have been placed in the Library.