HC Deb 18 July 2003 vol 409 cc978-9W
Dr. Cable

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the prisoners under home detention curfew(a) broke their curfew and (b) re-offended while under curfew for each month (i) in 2002 and (ii) to date in 2003; and if he will make a statement. [117686]

Paul Goggins

The number of prisoners subject to the home detention curfew scheme has increased significantly over the past year as a result of the decision to increase from 60 to 90 days the period of time prisoners serving a sentence of 12 months and over spend on the scheme and by encouraging governors to place more prisoners on the scheme where it is safe to do so. The following table shows the average number of prisoners on the scheme every month from January 2002 to April 2003.

The table also shows the number of prisoners subject to the home detention curfew scheme, who: (i) have breached the conditions of their curfew, pursuant to section 38A(1)(a) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, as reported to the Prison Service by the electronic monitoring contractors. (This refers to prisoners who have been absent from their curfew address, or have intentionally damaged their electronic personal identification device); or (ii) are reported to the Prison Service as having been cautioned, convicted or who are awaiting prosecution for an offence committed while they were subject to the home detention curfew scheme.

The Home Detention Curfew scheme is designed to ensure a better transition for short-term offenders between custody and the community. The safety of the public is paramount at all times.

Month Number of offenders on the Offenders on the HDC scheme (at the end of the last full week of each month) Breaches of Curfew reported to the Prison Service Offenders reported as having committed a further offence while subject to HDC
2002
January 1,672 54 7
February 1,707 47 11
March 1,965 58 14
April 2,103 64 12
May 2,300 88 26
June 2,327 123 18
July 2,292 127 26
August 2,410 127 28
September 2,384 119 20
October 2,431 125 24
November 2,584 125 26
December 3,097 156 21
2003
January 3,055 155 37
February 3,019 142 32
March 3,128 163 35
April 3,135 179 35