Home Detention Curfew Scheme (Hansard, 23 May 2000)

§ Mr. Boateng

[holding answer 8 May 2000]: As of 30 April 2000, a total of 20,028 prisoners had been released on Home Detention Curfew since the scheme commenced on 28 January 1999.

The original offences committed by prisoners released under the scheme during that 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

Table 1: HDC discharges by offence type
	Months
28 January 1999 to 30 April 2000	Number	Average sentence	Average served	Average period spent on scheme
Total	20,028	14.4	5.7	1.5
Manslaughter	53	33.9	15.1	1.9
Other homicide and attempted homicide	167	23.0	9.9	1.8
Attempted murder	6	28.5	12.9	1.9
Making threats to kill	34	19.1	8.0	1.7
Conspire, aid, incite murder	1	42.1	19.1	1.9
Death by reckless driving	126	23.5	10.1	1.9

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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.

As of 30 April 2000, 710 prisoners placed on the Home Detention Curfew scheme had breached the conditions of the curfew.

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 April, there were 40 curfewees who remained unlawfully at large. This represents less than 5 per cent. of the total number of revocations. In the vast majority of cases, when a curfewee's licence is revoked, he can expect to be quickly apprehended and returned to custody. While the priority to be given to pursuing individual cases will be an operational matter for local police forces, Home Office Circular 1/1999 made clear that Home Detention Curfew recalls should be regarded as "urgent action" cases. In addition, the National Identification Service at New Scotland Yard issues "The Police Gazette" weekly to all police forces, including details of curfewees who are unlawfully at large. When curfewees are apprehended following a period unlawfully at large, they are required to serve the period of time outstanding at the point their licence was revoked.

As of 30 April 2000, 965 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: for breach of the curfew; because the curfewee's whereabouts could no longer be electronically monitored; because it was necessary to protect the public from serious harm; and because the curfewee had committed an offence or breached any requirement of probation supervision. (Curfewees who are charged with new offences may also be recalled on any of the preceding grounds depending on the circumstances of the case).

Information on the specific offences committed by prisoners placed on Home Detention Curfew while on the scheme, and a breakdown of the specific offences 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 were set out in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Mr. Hope) on 22 May 2000, Official Report, columns 360–64W.

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Table 1: HDC discharges by offence type
	Months
28 January 1999 to 30 April 2000	Number	Average sentence	Average served	Average period spent on scheme
Wounding	2,562	15.6	6.2	1.6
Wounding (inflicting GBH)	1,556	19.4	8.0	1.8
Assault occasioning ABH	951	9.3	3.3	1.4
Assault with intent to cause GBH	55	16.2	6.7	1.5
Assaults	524	7.4	2.5	1.2
Assault with intent to resist arrest	10	5.7	1.8	1.0
Other assault	396	8.1	2.8	1.3
Obstruct/resist constable	8	5.9	2.0	1.0
Assault on police officer	110	4.7	1.5	0.9
Cruelty to children	23	15.5	6.4	1.4
Other violence against the person	256	15.4	6.2	1.5
Cause explosion, place explosive	2	33.0	15.0	1.5
Possess firearms with intent	143	18.9	7.8	1.7
Possess offensive weapon	92	10.8	4.0	1.4
Other violence against the person	19	9.0	3.3	1.3
Buggery	1	6.0	1.6	1.4
Indecent assault	18	11.5	4.3	1.4
Unlawful sexual intercourse	1	6.0	1.2	1.9
Abduction	1	36.0	17.3	1.2
Bigamy	11	7.4	2.4	1.2
Burglary	1,887	19.3	7.4	1.8
Robbery	811	26.3	11.4	1.9
Taking and driving away	234	9.6	3.6	1.2
Other theft	1,840	11.3	4.2	1.5
Handling stolen goods	627	13.6	5.3	1.6
Fraud	1,647	13.2	5.1	1.6
Forgery	85	11.1	4.1	1.4
Drugs offences	3,236	20.2	8.5	1.7
Production	115	15.8	6.3	1.6
Supply	1,079	22.0	9.3	1.8
Possession with intent	1,366	20.2	8.4	1.7
Possession	431	15.7	6.3	1.6
Unlawful import/export	207	24.5	10.7	1.7
Other drugs offences	38	13.5	5.1	1.7
Arson	125	22.8	9.8	1.8
Criminal damage	90	12.2	4.7	1.4
In charge or driving under the influence of drink or drugs	692	4.4	1.4	0.9
Reckless driving	329	9.1	3.2	1.4
Other motoring offences	1,391	4.6	1.4	0.9
Drunkenness	73	5.0	1.6	0.9
Blackmail	60	20.6	8.6	1.8
Kidnapping	30	19.6	8.1	1.8
Affray	535	9.4	3.3	1.4
Violent disorder	237	13.8	5.3	1.7
Perjury/libel/pervert the course of justice	300	9.8	3.6	1.3
Threat/disorderly behaviour	92	8.6	3.2	1.2
Breach of Court Order	208	9.5	3.0	1.9
Other offences	781	11.8	4.5	1.4
Offence not recorded	1,101	12.7	4.8	1.6