HC Deb 05 July 2002 vol 388 c625W
Dr. Ladyman

To ask the Solicitor-General how many prosecutions were abandoned before trial in the last year for which figures are available. [64433]

The Solicitor-General:

During the year ending March 2002, the Crown Prosecution Service discontinued proceedings in respect of 171,381 defendants in the magistrates courts, and 26,418 were bound over without trial. Proceedings were written off in respect of 73,084 defendants, usually because the police could not trace the defendant.

In the Crown Court, the Crown Prosecution Service decided to offer no evidence in cases involving 11,825 defendants, while a further 1,461 were bound over without trial. In addition, proceedings were written off in respect of 1,590 defendants.