HC Deb 18 June 2002 vol 387 cc194-5W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of HM armed forces have been brought before courts martial in each of the past eight years charged with violent offences against(a) male and (b) female (i) members of HM armed forces and (ii) civilians. [61388]

Mr. Ingram

The information is not held in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 18 March 2002,Official Report, column 61W, on courts martial, if he will break down the cases involving violent crime by (a) severity of offence, (b) sex of victim and (c) whether the victim was a member of HM armed forces. [61387]

Mr. Ingram

Available information on cases in the three services presented to courts martial during the year 2000 involving violent crime are as follows. The services do not employ a formal ranking of severity for violent offences, and so the offences are presented by type.

Royal Navy

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm—11 charges. All victims were members of the armed forces and consisted of 10 males and one female.
  • Assault—23 charges. 21 victims belonged to the armed forces and two were civilians and consisted of 18 males and five females.
  • Fighting—2 charges. Both were naval personnel.

Army

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm—101 charges
  • Common assault/battery—33 charges
  • Grievous bodily harm/wounding—32 charges
  • Grievous bodily harm/wounding with intent—9 charges
  • Affray—7 charges
  • Protection from harassment—4 charges
  • Fighting/violence against a superior—3 charges
  • Threatening/abusive behaviour—1 charge
  • Other violent offences—2 charges.

The Army statistics presented show individual cases that may include the individual being charged with more than one charge. In such cases, the more severe charge is listed—e.g, cases involving GBH and AOABH have been listed under GBH.

The sex of the victim, or whether they were members of the armed forces or civilians is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Royal Air Force

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm—12 charges
  • Battery—12 charges
  • Common assault—2 charges
  • Grievous bodily harm—1 charge
  • Unlawful wounding—1 charge.

The sex of the victim, or whether they were members of the armed forces or civilians is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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