HC Deb 02 November 2000 vol 355 cc610-2W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have breached one or more conditions of their release under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme since its inception. [134768]

Mr. Boateng

Of the 26,898 prisoners placed on the Home Detention Curfew scheme by 30 September 2000, 1,756 have been reported as having breached one or more of the conditions of their release while subject to the Home Detention Curfew scheme.

This figure includes prisoners who are reported: as having breached the conditions of the curfew (section 38A(1)(a) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991); as no longer able to be electronically monitored (section 38A(1)(b) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991): as presenting a risk of serious harm to the public (section 38A(1)(c) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991); and as having committed an offence or breached any other 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.

Prisoners whose current sentence is in respect of an offence committed before 1 January 1999 are not liable to be recalled under section 39 of the Act. In such cases, where the curfewee has breached the requirements of probation supervision or where they have committed a further offence and it has not been possible to revoke their licence under section 38A of the Act, the breach may be referred to the courts under section 38(1) of the Act. The total number of such cases referred to the courts is not held centrally.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what criminal offences have been committed by prisoners released under the home detention curfew scheme. [134773]

Mr. Boateng

Of the 26,898 prisoners placed on the Home Detention Curfew (HDC) scheme by 30 September 2000, 555 are known by the Prison Service to have been cautioned or convicted of a further offence committed while on HDC or are pending prosecution for such an offence. The total number of offences committed by these prisoners is 1,003. A breakdown of the offences is contained in the given table.

Breakdown of all cases involving further offences which led to
conviction, cautions or where prosecutions are pending
28 January 1999 to 30 September 2000
Offence Number
Total 1,003
Manslaughter 0
Other homicide and attempted homicide
Attempted murder 0
Making threats to kill 3
Conspire, aid, incite murder 0
Death by reckless driving 0
Wounding
Wounding (inflicting GBH) 6
Assault occasioning ABH 22
Assault with intent to cause GBH 0
Assaults
Assault with intent to resist arrest 1
Other assault 32
Obstruct/resist constable 0
Assault on police officer 24
Cruelty to children 0
Other violence against the person
Cause explosion, place explosive 0
Possess firearms with intent 1
Possess offensive weapon 9
Other violence against the person 8
Sexual Offences
Rape 2
Buggery 0
Indecent assault 1
Unlawful sexual intercourse 0

Breakdown of all cases involving further offences which led to
conviction, cautions or where prosecutions are pending
28 January 1999 to 30 September 2000
Offence Number
Abduction 0
Bigamy 0
Burglary 42
Robbery 17
Taking and driving away 13
Other theft 175
Handling stolen goods 29
Fraud 44
Forgery 4
Drugs offences
Production 0
Supply 14
Possession with intent 7
Possession 83
Unlawful import/export 1
Other drugs offences 5
Arson 1
Criminal damage 43
In charge or driving under the influence of drink or drugs 42
Reckless driving 7
Other motoring offences 195
Drunkenness 1
Blackmail 0
Kidnapping 3
Affray 14
Violent disorder 23
Perjury/libel/pervert the course of justice 6
Threat/disorderly behaviour 6
Breach of Court Order 38
Other offences 68
Offence not recorded 13