§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Solicitor-General how many cases were referred to the Crown Prosecution Service by the Thames Valley Police in each of the last three years; what percentage of referred cases were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service; and what percentage of referred cases resulted in a criminal conviction. [123912]
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe CPS holds records for each of the 42 Areas of the Service. These are not always coterminous with the boundaries of the 43 police forces; Thames Valley is an area where the police boundary differs from that of the Crown Prosecution Service. Further, cases may be completed in an area different from that in which they originated.
The following tables show the number of cases received by CPS Thames Valley in magistrates courts and in the Crown court for each of the last three years, and the eventual outcome of proceedings. The number of cases dealt with may differ from the number received because incomplete proceedings are carried over from year to year. Cases may result in a number of different outcomes: these are shown in full to provide a complete picture.
841W
CPS Thames Valley receipts and outcomes magistrates courts 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Received 39,881 56,335 55,161 Discontinued 5,643 8,721 8,120 Percentage 15.3 16.1 15.2 Boundover 699 1,069 1,119 Percentage 1.9 2.0 2.1
CPS Thames valley receipts and outcomes magistrates courts 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Written off 3,442 3,821 5,740 Percentage 9.4 7.1 10.7 Committed 1,524 2,080 2,073 Percentage 4.1 3.8 3.9 Dismissed 364 403 434 Percentage 1.0 0.7 0.8 Convicted 25,095 38,086 35,954 Percentage 68.3 70.3 67.3 Definitions of categories:
Magistrates courts:
Received: cases received from the police during each year, including cases referred for pre-charge advice as well as those which were the subject of charge or summons;
Discontinued: all cases where the CPS decided not to proceed before evidence was heard;
Bound over: cases where the CPS agreed to accept a bind over, and no trial was held;
Written off: cases which could not proceed because the police could not trace the defendant, or the defendant had died or been found unfit to plead;
Convicted: includes guilty pleas as well as convictions after trial.
Note
Each case represents one defendant. Case outcomes are expressed as a percentage of completed cases for each year.
Crown court 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Received 2,258 2,740 3,121 Judge ordered acquittals 105 204 250 Percentage 7.1 12.1 12.4 Bound over 8 13 34 Percentage 0.5 0.8 1.7 Written off 2 22 49 Percentage 0.1 1.3 2.4 Acquitted 220 177 174 Percentage 15.0 10.5 8.6 Convicted 1,136 1,272 1,505 Percentage 77.2 75.4 74.8 Definitions of categories:
Crown court:
Received: all cases received from magistrates courts, including appeals and committals for sentence as well as those committed for trial;
Judge ordered acquittals: cases where CPS decided not to proceed before a jury was sworn;
Bound over: cases where the CPS agreed to accept a bind over, and no trial was held;
Written off: cases which could not proceed because the police could not trace the defendant, or the defendant had died or been found unfit to plead;
Convicted: includes guilty pleas as well as convictions after trial.
Note
Each case represents one defendant. Case outcomes are expressed as a percentage of completed cases for each year.