HL Deb 05 April 2004 vol 659 cc195-7WA
Viscount Simon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many offences of failing to stop after a road traffic accident resulting in injury were committed in the five years prior to 1 October 2001; and [HL2146]

How many offences of failing to stop after a road traffic accident resulting in injury have been committed since October 2001 when this became an arrestable offence; and how many drivers have been arrested; and [HL2147]

If no statistics exist in respect of failing to stop after a road traffic accident resulting in injury, what measures they will put in place to ensure that such statistics are collected. [HL2149]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

Within England and Wales information on the number of offences committed by drivers and the number of drivers arrested for the offence of failing to stop after road traffic accident is not collected centrally.

Available information given in table A shows the number of offences proceeded against by result for the offence of failing to stop after an accident under the Road Traffic Act 1988 Section 170 (4) from 1997 to 2001, England and Wales (latest available).

There are no current plans to separate those offences of failing to stop after an accident, which result in injury from those resulting in damage or both.

For Scotland available information, given in table B, is taken from the Scottish Executive Justice Department's court proceedings database, and shows the number of persons proceeded against, and the number of crimes recorded by the police, where the main crime/offence was failing to stop or report a road traffic accident.

There are no current plans to separate those offences which result in injury from those which result in damage or both injury and damage.

As failing to stop after a road traffic collision is not a recordable offence the Police Service of Northern Ireland does not therefore record these statistics. The offence is not an arrestable offence in Northern Ireland and there are no plans at present to record such information.

Viscount Simon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How drivers arrested for failing to stop after a road traffic accident resulting in injury have been identified, through fingerprints or DNA, as having been involved in other criminal activities. [HL2148]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

Such records are not kept centrally within England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.