HL Deb 23 April 2001 vol 625 cc27-30WA
Lord Dholakia

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will publish, for the most convenient recent period, an analysis of:

(a) the number of offenders who appeared before the courts for sentence following convictions on four or more previous occasions;

Table: Offenders sentenced during four sample weeks of 1998 who had four or more previous convictions
Males Females
Age under 18 Age 18–25 Aged 26 and over Age under 18 Age 18–25 Aged 26 and over
Total number of offenders in sample who have convictions on four or more previous occasions 657 4,323 7,619 41 324 630
Offence on most recent conviction:
Violence against the person 36 5.5% 269 6.2% 571 7.5% 1 2.4% 14 4.3% 23 3.7%
Sexual offences 0 0.0% 13 0.3% 68 0.9% 0 0.0% 0 0.0%, 1 0.2%
Burglary 112 17.0% 503 11.6% 480 6.3% 2 4.9%, 9 2.8%, 10 1.6%
Robbery 24 3.7% 73 1.7% 60 0.8% 2 4.9%, 3 0.9%, 2 0.3%,
Theft and handling stolen goods 263 40.0% 1,311 30.3% 2,035 26.7%, 19 46.3%, 156 48.1% 323 51.3%,
Fraud and forgery 4 0.6% 85 2.0% 240 3.2% 1 2.4% 24 7.4%, 32 5.1%
Criminal damage 14 2.1% 65 1.5% 118 1.5% 0 0.0% 2 0.6%, 7 1.1%
Drug offences 26 4.0% 407 9.4% 947 12.4% 0 0.0% 24 7.4%, 55 8.7%
Other indictable offences 29 4.4% 443 10.2%, 591 7.8% 5 12.2%, 40 12.3%, 78 12.4%,
Summary standard list offences 149 22.7% 1,154 26.7% 2,509 32.9% 11 26.8% 52 16.0% 99 15.7%
Total 657 100.0% 4,323 100.0%, 7,619 100.0%, 41 100.0% 324 100.0% 630 100.0%,
Sentence received on most recent conviction:
Absolute or conditional discharge 117 17.8% 425 9.8% 1,005 13.2%, 8 19.5% 54 16.7% 128 20.3%
Fine 67 10.2%, 1,157 26.8% 2,558 33,6%, 7 17.1% 71 21.9%, 178 28.3%
All community sentences 276 42.0%, 1,186 27.4%, 1,852 24.3%, 19 46.3%, 114 35.2% 194 30.8%,
Imprisonment: less than 12 months 136 20.7% 995 23.0% 1,340 17.6% 6 14.6%, 63 19.4% 81 12.9%
Imprisonment: 12 months to less than 4 years 29 4.4% 430 9.9%, 537 7.0% 1 2.4%, 11 3.4% 14 2.2%
Imprisonment: 4 years and over 0 0.0% 49 1.1% 134 1.8% 0 0.0%, 2 0.6% 3 0.5%,
Imprisonment: all sentence lengths 165 25.1% 1,474 34.1% 2,011 26.4%, 7 17.1%, 76 23.5% 98 15.6%
Other sentence 32 4.9% 81 1.9% 193 2.5% 0 0.0%> 9 92.8% 32 5.1%,
Total 657 100.0% 4,323 100.0%, 7,619 100.0% 41 100.0%, 324 100.0% 630 100.0%

(b) the types of offence for which they had received their most recent conviction;

(c) the types of sentences they received: discharges, fines, community sentences, imprisonment up to 12 months, 12 months to four years and four years and over; and

(d) the period of time which had elapsed since the offence for which the offender had been convicted on the last previous occasion, showing separate figures for men and women and for those aged under 18, 18–25, and over 25; and [HL1762]

What estimate they have made of (1) the numbers of offenders who over a 12-month period are likely to appear before the courts for sentence following a fifth or subsequent conviction; (2) the types of offence for which they will most recently have been convicted; and (3) the period of time which will have elapsed since their last previous conviction. [HL1761]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

Readily available data relates to a sample of offenders who were convicted of standard list offences during 20 days in 1998. The total number of offenders convicted of standard list offences during the sample period was 33,808 males and 4,941 females, of whom 12,599 males and 995 females had been convicted on four or more previous occasions (i.e. they were being sentenced on a fifth or subsequent occasion). The table gives an age and gender breakdown of the most recent offence, sentence imposed, and an analysis of the time since the offender's last previous conviction. An estimate for a 12-month period can be made by multiplying the same figures by 13.

Table: Offenders sentenced during four sample weeks of 1998 who had four or more previous convictions
Males Females
Age under 18 Age 18–25 Aged 26 and over Age under 18 Age 18–25 Aged 26 and over
Time since the last previous conviction and most recent conviction:
Less than 3 months 265 40.3% 1,151 26.6% 1,261 16.6% 15 36.6% 102 31.5% 137 21.7%
3 months or more, but less than 6monlhs 84 12.8% 387 9.0% 408 5.4% 5 12.2% 34 10.5% 47 7.5%
6 months or more, but less than 9 months 154 23.4% 730 16.9% 917 12.0% 11 26.8% 65 20.1% 84 13.3%
9 months or more, but less than 12 months 101 15.4% 840 19.4% 1,026 13.5% 7 17.1% 60 18.5% 106 16.8%
12 months or more, but less than 18 months 36 5.5% 497 11.5% 822 10.8% 3 7.3% 27 8.3%, 76 12.1%
18 months or more, but less than 24 months 12 1.8% 305 7.1% 566 7.4% 0 0.0% 14 4.3% 37 5.9%
24 months or more 5 0.8% 413 9.6% 2,619 34.4% 0 0.0% 22 6.8% 143 22.7%
Total 657 100.0% 4,323 100.0% 7,619 100.0% 41 100.0% 324 100.0% 630 100.0%