Protection from Harassment Act (Hansard, 18 June 2004)

§ Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the total number of restraining orders made under section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 after a conviction under section 2 of the Act was in(a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003, broken down by sex of the defendant; [159393]

(2) what the total number of restraining orders made under section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 after a conviction under section 4 of the Act was in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003, broken down by sex of the defendant; [159394]

(3) what the total number of applications alleging a breach of a section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 restraining order resulting in a conviction was in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003, broken down by gender; [159395]

(4) what the total number of applications alleging a breach of a section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 restraining order resulting in an acquittal was, broken down by gender, in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003; [159396]

(5) how many magistrates, court and Crown court prosecutions under section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 resulted in (a) conviction and (b) acquittal in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003, broken down by sex of defendant. [159399]

§ Paul Goggins

Table A shows the number of persons sentenced to a restraining order following a conviction for an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, sections 2 and 4 at all courts in England and Wales during 2001 and 2002.

Table A: Number of persons sentenced to a restraining order after being found guilty of an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, sections 2 or 4, all courts, England and Wales, 2001 and 2002
Statute	Offence description	Year	Sex	Sentenced to a restraining order¹
Protection from Harassment Act 1997, Section 2	Offence of harassment	2001	Male	1,057
	Female	147
		Total	1,204
		2002	Male	1,235
			Female	146
			Total	1,381
Protection from Harassment Act 1997, Section 4	Putting people in fear of violence	2001	Male	141
	Female	9
		Total	150
		2002	Male	192
			Female	13
			Total	205
¹These data are on the principal offence basis (but including primary and secondary disposals).

Table B shows the number of persons acquitted or found guilty at all courts of the offence of breaching a restraining order under section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, in England and Wales during 2001 and 2002.

1159W

Table B: Number of persons acquitted or convicted of breaching a restraining order under tit Protection from Harassment Act 1997, section 5, at all courts, England and Wales 2001 and 2001¹
Statute	Offence description	Year	Sex	Acquitted ²	Found guilty
Protection from Harassment Act 1997, Section 5	Breach of restraining order	2001	Male	57	501
			Female	6	38
			Total	63	539
		2002	Male	59	556
			Female	7	48
			Total	66	604
¹ These data are on the principal offence basis.
² Charge dismissed at magistrates' courts.

Table C shows the number of persons acquitted or found guilty at both magistrates' courts and the Crown Court of offences under sections 2 and 4 of the

Table: C Number of persons acquitted or found guilty of offences under sections 2 and 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, England and Wales 2001 to 2002¹
				Magistrates' courts	The Crown court
Statute	Offence description	Year	Sex	Charge dismissed	Found guilty	Acquitted	Found guilty
Protection from Harassment Act 1997, Section 2	Offence of harassment	2001	Male	372	2,377	18	98
			Female	65	320	4	11
			Total	437	2,697	22	109
		2002	Male	111	2,422	14	107
			Female	71	328	5	6
			Total	182	2,750	19	113
Protection from Harassment Act 1997, Section 4	Putting people in fear of violence	2001	Male	84	371	91	178
	Female	11	32	13	9
			Total	95	403	104	187
		2002	Male	73	376	86	223
			Female	7	26	11	13
			Total	80	402	97	236
¹ These data are on the principal offence basis.

Statistics on court proceedings for 2003 will be published in the Autumn of this year.