§ Lord Windleshamasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 27 November (WA 119) is correct in stating that in the period from December 1999 to June 2000 inclusive there have been no minimum sentences of three years' imprisonment imposed for repeat offences of burglary under Section 4 of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997, new Section 111 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000. [HL4833]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonRecords indicate that no minimum sentences under Section 111 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 were imposed for the period from December 1999 (when the relevant provision was implemented) to June 2000 inclusive. Section 111 applies where an offender, after 30 November 1999, is convicted of an offence of domestic burglary, having previously been convicted on two separate occasions of offences of domestic burglary also committed after 30 November 1999. It is entirely possible that there have been no occasions in the seven months at issue when an offender has gone through the sequence of committing an offence, being apprehended and convicted on three separate occasions (where he must also have been sentenced and served any period of imprisonment imposed in relation to the first two occasions.)