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Column 132
Mr. G. ListerAnalysis and evaluation of tenders for the management of Manchester prison.
The total cost of these contracts was £263,000.
Mentally Ill and Addicted Prisoners
Ms Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current estimate of the number of people who are (a) mentally ill, (b) drug misusers and (c) alcohol addicted in prisons in England and Wales.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from D. Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 18 October 1993 : The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the numbers of mentally ill, drug misusers and alcohol addicted prisoners.
A study by Professor J. Gunn, Dr. T. Maden and Dr. M. Swinton of the Institute of Psychiatry, completed in 1991, suggested that of the sentenced population 19.2 per cent. had some form of psychiatric disorder and 19.6 per cent. had been substance misusers prior to coming into prison.
A parallel research study has recently commenced to provide a psychiatric profile of the unsentenced prison population.
Gunn, Maden and Swinton, "Mentally Disordered Prisoners", Home Office, 1991.
Short Prison Sentences
Ms Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in prisons in England and Wales have a sentence of six months or less ; and what proportion of those are fine defaulters.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from D. Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 18 October 1993 : The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many people in prisons in England and Wales are serving a sentence of six months or less and what the proportion of those are fine defaulters.
The latest available provisional information is for 31 August 1993 when there were 3,642 prisoners in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales serving sentences of six months or less. Fourteen per cent. of the population serving up to six months were fine defaulters.
Penal Change Programme
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with the Prison Officers Association concerning the practicability and cost of his programme for penal changes, announced in Blackpool in October.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : My right hon. and learned Friend has agreed to meet representatives of the Prison Officers Association next month, but the conduct of industrial relations in the Prison Service is a matter for the director
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general. It will be for the latter to arrange for Prison Service trade unions to be consulted about any matters arising from the implementation of the policies he announced in so far as they may affect the Prison Service and are appropriate for consultation.Penal Costs
Ms Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost per person per month of (a) keeping someone in prison and (b) sentencing someone to community-based penalties.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : In 1991-92, the most recent year for which figures are available, the average monthly net operating cost of holding a person in prison establishments was £1,915 and the cost of community sentences was between £95 and £110 per month.
Reoffenders
Ms Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the percentage of (i) adult and (ii) juvenile offenders who reoffend within two years of receiving (a) a custodial sentence and (b) a non-custodial sentence.
Mr. Maclean : The information is not available in the form requested. The latest available information on reconvictions is shown in the table :
Percentage of offenders given probation or community service orders in
1987 and those discharged from prison in 1987 who were reconvicted of
a standard list' within two years.
Offender |Those discharged |Those commencing a |Those commencing a
|from prison service|probation order<1> |community service
|establishments per |per cent. |order<1> per cent.
|cent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All males |57 |56 |55
All females |40 |37 |41
Males aged under 21 |71 |66 |65
Females aged under 21 |51 |41 |43
<1> Source "Reconvictions of those given Probation and Community Service Orders in 1987"-Home Office
Statistical Bulletin 18/93.
Fine Defaulters
Ms Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are in prison in England and Wales as a result of fine defaults.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from D. Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 18 October 1993 : The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Question about population of fine defaulters in Prison Service establishments.
On 31 August 1993 there were 500 fine defaulters (477 males and 23 females) in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales.
Prison Custody Officers
Ms Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison custody officers work at (a) the Wolds prison and (b) Blakenhurst prison.
Column 134
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from D. Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 18 October 1993 : The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoner custody officers at Wolds and Blakenhurst.
There are 122 certificated prisoner custody officers at Wolds remand prison and 266 at HMP Blakenhurst.
Woolf Report
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list progress made to date on each of the recommendations of the Woolf report and timetables for future implementation.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from D. Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 18 October 1993 : The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the progress made on the recommendations of the Woolf Report and timetable for future implementation.
You will know that Lord Chief Justice Woolf made twelve major recommendations and each of these have been a key priority for the Prison Service. A summary of the progress made is set out below. Improve Security
The Prisons Security Act is now in force.
The long-term programme for refurbishing prisons to improve security standards is underway.
Many of the recommendations from the Lakes Hadfield Report have now been implemented.
Security audits have been instituted in prisons.
X-ray machines have been installed in all prisons holding category A prisoners.
Revised guidance on procedures for escorting prisoners has been distributed to all establishments.
A new style escort chain is being trialled.
The anti-bullying strategy for the Prison Service was launched in July of this year.
A standardised intelligence system is now in place in every prison security department.
Improve co-operation between Services
A Criminal Justice Consultative Council has been created. A Criminal Justice Liaison Committee has been set up in each of the 15 prison areas. The links between the Probation Service and the Prison Service are being strengthened with the development of contracts between governors and chief probation officers. Measures have been taken to reduce the use of remanding purely for psychiatric assessment.
There has been an increase in the number of prisoners transferred as in- patients to hospital for the treatment of mental disorder. Increase delegation and improve accountability
From 1 April 1993 I have been personally responsible for the day to day management of the Prison Service.
The Prison Service's Framework Document sets out our goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The Service is given specific targets by Ministers every year in relation to each of the KPIs.
Much greater delegation to governors has taken place this year with budgetary and personnel responsibilities already devolved. On 1 April 1994 governors of prison establishments will have a new contract which in essence is a specification detailing standards of service delivery.
Column 135
The strategy for involving the private sector in managing some of our prisons is established with the Wolds and Blakenhurst being fully operational. Manchester has been market tested and further prisons will be named for future market testing.Improve quality of jobs
A Better Jobs Programme has been initiated throughout the Service. A comprehensive review of prison officer induction training and development training for existing staff has been undertaken. There has been significant progress in involving prison officers in suicide awareness, induction, sentence planning and personal officer schemes.
Recognise status and requirements of unconvicted prisoners A model regime for local prisons and remand centres was issued in November 1992.
New guidance on prison bail schemes was issued in August 1992 and there has been an extension of bail schemes and hostel provision. Provide active and relevant programmes
There are now 500 NVQ schemes in place in establishments throughout England and Wales. This number is to be extended to 700 during the course of 1994.
There are 180 construction industry training courses running in establishments throughout England and Wales.
80 prison establishments have now run pre-release courses. During the remainder of this year and into next year 48 establishments will have job search courses running with job clubs in 10 establishments.
15 establishments are running sex offender programmes and about 400 prisoners benefit from these programmes each year.
All female establishments have received new regime guidance. Every establishment has received guidance on the nature and balance of regime activities.
A review of personal officer schemes has been undertaken. Many establishments now offer anger management courses and cognitive skills programmes are currently being developed. The regime monitoring system which measures inmate activity has been extended and improved.
In November 1992 an admissions guide on reception and induction arrangements was issued to all establishments.
All prisoners who were sentenced to 4 years or more after October 1992, and sentenced category A prisoners now have sentenced plans prepared for them. By the end of 1993 sentenced planning will be extended to all newly sentenced prisoners serving one year or more. In October 1992 new guidance was issued for establishments holding juvenile offenders.
Provide Code of Standards
The Prisons Board aims to approve a Code of Standards for the Prison Service by the end of 1993.
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Improve relationships with prisonersA prisoners' information pack has been issued.
The Board of Visitors' role has changed with their responsibility for adjudications being removed.
A Prison Ombudsman will be appointed.
A series of measures has been taken to improve standards of diets and food distribution in establishments.
A major research project has been commissioned to examine how racial incidents are recorded and dealt with.
A model prisoner compact has been approved by the Board and will be issued to all establishments.
Provide access to sanitation
During 1993-94 £17.5 million will be spent on simple sanitation schemes. This is in addition to other funding for refurbishment schemes.
More than 80 per cent. of places now have access to sanitation. End overcrowding
Twelve new prisons have been opened since 1991 providing 6,994 places.
Approval has recently been given for a further six new prisons. Divide large wings into smaller units wherever possible Whenever major wing refurbishment schemes are considered the requirment to create smaller units is considered.
Develop community prisons
Work has commenced on selecting suitable areas where the clustering of prisons can be piloted.
The opportunities for prisoners to maintain their family ties has been improved with an increase in the frequency and flexibility of duration of visits ; further extension of financially assisted visit schemnes is projected for early 1994 ; and the provision of cardphones has now been extended to all prisons.
The Prison Service remains committed to the policies set out in the White Paper. Further progress will be made as quickly as possible.
Sentences
Ms Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the percentage of people sentenced in the courts who received (a) a custodial sentence and (b) a non-custodial sentence each month from January 1992 to the latest available date.
Mr. Maclean : Information on sentencing for both the magistrates court and the crown court for 1992--which is provisional--is given in the tables A to C. Data provided by the Lord Chancellor's Department for committals for trial at the crown court are given in table D.
Column 135
Table A
Persons sentenced at magistrates courts for all offences by month, type of offence and type of
sentence
England and Wales 1992<1>
Total sentenced Custodial Non-custodial
sentences sentences
|Number |Percentage|Number |Percentage|Number |Percentage
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indictable offences
January |23,544 |100 |1,341 |6 |22,203 |94
February |20,673 |100 |1,172 |6 |19,501 |94
March |22,047 |100 |1,255 |6 |20,792 |94
April |20,117 |100 |1,157 |6 |18,960 |94
May |17,867 |100 |975 |5 |16,892 |95
June |20,402 |100 |1,040 |5 |19,362 |95
July |20,295 |100 |1,067 |5 |19,228 |95
August |18,301 |100 |1,017 |6 |17,284 |94
September |20,454 |100 |1,035 |5 |19,419 |95
October |20,699 |100 |483 |2 |20,216 |98
November |19,886 |100 |609 |3 |19,277 |97
December |17,131 |100 |645 |4 |16,486 |96
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |241,416 |100 |11,796 |5 |229,620 |95
Summary non-
motoring
offences
January |41,146 |100 |438 |1 |40,708 |99
February |35,672 |100 |359 |1 |35,313 |99
March |40,817 |100 |380 |1 |40,437 |99
April |37,268 |100 |314 |1 |36,954 |99
May |36,018 |100 |266 |1 |35,752 |99
June |42,138 |100 |336 |1 |41,802 |99
July |41,937 |100 |322 |1 |41,615 |99
August |36,881 |100 |300 |1 |36,581 |99
September |41,214 |100 |277 |1 |40,937 |99
October |39,647 |100 |143 |0 |39,504 |100
November |39,799 |100 |187 |0 |39,612 |100
December |32,540 |100 |164 |1 |32,376 |99
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |465,077 |100 |3,486 |1 |461,591 |99
Summary motoring
offences
January |61,977 |100 |612 |1 |61,365 |99
February |54,875 |100 |536 |1 |54,339 |99
March |61,195 |100 |593 |1 |60,602 |99
April |57,310 |100 |496 |1 |56,814 |99
May |52,930 |100 |436 |1 |52,494 |99
June |62,771 |100 |494 |1 |62,277 |99
July |64,265 |100 |545 |1 |63,720 |99
August |58,781 |100 |507 |1 |58,274 |99
September |63,925 |100 |450 |1 |63,475 |99
October |61,495 |100 |306 |0 |61,189 |100
November |59,806 |100 |368 |1 |59,438 |99
December |50,443 |100 |355 |1 |50,088 |99
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |709,773 |100 |5,698 |1 |704,075 |99
All offences
January |126,667 |100 |2,391 |2 |124,276 |98
February |111,220 |100 |2,067 |2 |109,153 |98
March |124,059 |100 |2,228 |2 |121,831 |98
April |114,695 |100 |1,967 |2 |112,728 |98
May |106,815 |100 |1,677 |2 |105,138 |98
June |125,311 |100 |1,870 |1 |123,441 |99
July |126,497 |100 |1,934 |2 |124,563 |98
August |113,963 |100 |1,824 |2 |112,139 |98
September |125,593 |100 |1,762 |1 |123,831 |99
October |121,841 |100 |932 |1 |120,909 |99
November |119,491 |100 |1,164 |1 |118,327 |99
December |100,114 |100 |1,164 |1 |98,950 |99
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |1,416,266 |100 |20,980 |1 |1,395,286 |99
<1> Provisional.
Column 137
Table B
Persons sentenced at the Crown Court for all offences by month, type of offence and type of
sentence
England and Wales 1992<1>
Total sentenced Custodial Non-custodial
sentences sentences
|Number |Percentage|Number |Percentage|Number |Percentage
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indictable offences
January |7,990 |100 |3,622 |45 |4,368 |55
February |7,623 |100 |3,412 |45 |4,211 |55
March |8,094 |100 |3,742 |46 |4,352 |54
April |6,490 |100 |3,000 |46 |3,490 |54
May |6,554 |100 |2,960 |45 |3,594 |55
June |7,035 |100 |3,202 |46 |3,833 |54
July |7,919 |100 |3,637 |46 |4,282 |54
August |5,495 |100 |2,468 |45 |3,027 |55
September |6,496 |100 |2,889 |44 |3,607 |56
October |5,802 |100 |2,273 |39 |3,529 |61
November |6,268 |100 |2,538 |40 |3,730 |60
December |5,351 |100 |2,210 |41 |3,141 |59
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |81,117 |100 |35,953 |44 |45,164 |56
Summary non-
motoring
offences
January |315 |100 |79 |25 |236 |75
February |273 |100 |54 |20 |219 |80
March |300 |100 |68 |23 |232 |77
April |240 |100 |52 |22 |188 |78
May |190 |100 |41 |22 |149 |78
June |266 |100 |52 |20 |214 |80
July |294 |100 |68 |23 |226 |77
August |176 |100 |43 |24 |133 |76
September |221 |100 |50 |23 |171 |77
October |218 |100 |36 |17 |182 |83
November |197 |100 |30 |15 |167 |85
December |161 |100 |34 |21 |127 |79
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |2,851 |100 |607 |21 |2,244 |79
Summary motoring
offences
January |141 |100 |43 |30 |98 |70
February |117 |100 |43 |37 |74 |63
March |142 |100 |49 |35 |93 |65
April |91 |100 |36 |40 |55 |60
May |123 |100 |52 |42 |71 |58
June |112 |100 |38 |34 |74 |66
July |131 |100 |50 |38 |81 |62
August |105 |100 |36 |34 |69 |66
September |127 |100 |40 |31 |87 |69
October |104 |100 |18 |17 |86 |83
November |111 |100 |25 |23 |86 |77
December |83 |100 |18 |22 |65 |78
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |1,387 |100 |448 |32 |939 |68
All offences
January |8,446 |100 |3,744 |44 |4,702 |56
February |8,013 |100 |3,509 |44 |4,504 |56
March |8,536 |100 |3,859 |45 |4,677 |55
April |6,821 |100 |3,088 |45 |3,733 |55
May |6,867 |100 |3,053 |44 |3,814 |56
June |7,413 |100 |3,292 |44 |4,121 |56
July |8,344 |100 |3,755 |45 |4,589 |55
August |5,776 |100 |2,547 |44 |3,229 |56
September |6,844 |100 |2,979 |44 |3,865 |56
October |6,124 |100 |2,327 |38 |3,797 |62
November |6,576 |100 |2,593 |39 |3,983 |61
December |5,595 |100 |2,262 |40 |3,333 |60
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |85,355 |100 |37,008 |43 |48,347 |57
<1> Provisional.
Column 139
Table C
Persons sentenced at all courts for all offences by month, type of offence and type of sentence
England and Wales 1992<1>
Total sentenced Custodial Non-custodial
sentences sentences
|Number |Percentage|Number |Percentage|Number |Percentage
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indictable offences
January |31,534 |100 |4,963 |16 |26,571 |84
February |28,296 |100 |4,584 |16 |23,712 |84
March |30,141 |100, |4,997 |17 |25,144 |83
April |26,607 |100 |4,157 |16 |22,450 |84
May |24,421 |100 |3,935 |16 |20,486 |84
June |27,437 |100 |4,242 |15 |23,195 |85
July |28,214 |100 |4,704 |17 |23,510 |83
August |23,796 |100 |3,485 |15 |20,311 |85
September |26,950 |100 |3,924 |15 |23,026 |85
October |26,501 |100 |2,756 |10 |23,745 |90
November |26,154 |100 |12 |23,000 |88
December |22,482 |100 |2,855 |13 |19,627 |87
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |322,533 |100 |47,749 |15 |274,784 |85
Summary non-motoring offences
January |41,461 |100 |517 |1 |40,944 |99
February |35,945 |100 |413 |1 |35,532 |99
March |41,117 |100 |448 |1 |40,669 |99
April |37,508 |100 |366 |1 |37,142 |99
May |36,208 |100 |307 |1 |35,901 |99
June |42,404 |100 |388 |1 |42,016 |99
July |42,231 |100 |390 |1 |41,841 |99
August |37,057 |100 |343 |1 |36,714 |99
September |41,435 |100 |327 |1 |41,108 |99
October |39,865 |100 |179 |0 |39,686 |100
November |39,996 |100 |217 |1 |39,779 |99
December |32,701 |100 |198 |1 |32,503 |99
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |467,928 |100 |4,093 |1 |463,835 |99
Summary motoring offences
January |62,118 |100 |655 |1 |61,463 |99
February |54,992 |100 |579 |1 |54,413 |99
March |61,337 |100 |642 |1 |60,695 |99
April |57,401 |100 |532 |1 |56,869 |99
May |53,053 |100 |488 |1 |52,565 |99
June |62,883 |100 |532 |1 |62,351 |99
July |64,396 |100 |595 |1 |63,801 |99
August |58,886 |100 |543 |1 |58,343 |99
September |64,052 |100 |490 |1 |63,562 |99
October |61,599 |100 |324 |1 |61,275 |99
November |59,917 |100 |393 |1 |59,524 |99
December |50,526 |100 |373 |1 |50,153 |99
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |711,160 |100 |6,146 |1 |705,014 |99
All offences
January |135,113 |100 |6,135 |5 |128,978 |95
February |119,233 |100 |5,576 |5 |113,657 |95
March |132,595 |100 |6,087 |5 |126,508 |95
April |121,516 |100 |5,055 |4 |116,461 |96
May |113,682 |100 |4,730 |4 |108,952 |96
June |132,724 |100 |5,162 |4 |127,562 |96
July |134,841 |100 |5,689 |4 |129,152 |96
August |119,739 |100 |4,371 |4 |115,368 |96
September |132,437 |100 |4,741 |4 |127,696 |96
October |127,965 |100 |3,259 |3 |124,706 |97
November |126,067 |100 |3,757 |3 |122,310 |97
December |105,709 |100 |3,426 |3 |102,283 |97
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |1,501,621 |100 |57,988 |4 |1,443,633 |96
<1> Provisional.
Table D
Proportionate use of
immediate custody for
defendants sentenced at the
Crown Court following
committal for trial
England and Wales 1992-1993
Month |1992 |1993
----------------------------
January |48 |42
February |48 |46
March |49 |47
April |50 |49
May |49 |50
June |49 |51
July |48 |52
August |48 |54
September |48
October |42
November |42
December |43
Column 142
Right to Silence
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions accused persons in criminal cases have exercised their rights to silence in each six-month period over the last three years ; and if he will list such information he has available on the dates, courts, and charges when verdicts of not guilty have been given in such cases over that period.
Mr. Maclean : This information is not collected centrally.
Crime Statistics
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will
Column 143
Mr. Maclean : The five largest increases in recorded crime, i.e. notifiable offences recorded by the police in England and Wales, between 1979 and 1992 were :
|Per cent.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Perverting the course of justice |+915
Theft or unauthorised taking from mail |+531
Aggravated burglary in a building |+377
Other criminal damage value £20+ not endangering life |+338
Robbery or assault with attempt to rob |+324
The five largest decreases in recorded crime were :
|Per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
False accounting |-67
Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl over 12 but under 16 |-56
Theft by an employee |-54
Abstracting electricity |-49
Indecency between males |-33
Classifications with small numbers of offences and those largely affected by legislation and definitional changes have been excluded.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of changes in the incidence of crimes against the person and of crimes against property since 1979.
Mr. Maclean : Recorded crimes against the person and crimes against property both increased by 120 per cent. between 1979 and 1992.
Mrs. Bridget Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of crimes committed in the London borough of Lewisham in each year since 1985 were crimes related to (a) theft from residential property, (b) theft from commercial property, (c) theft from vehicles, (d) murder and (e) drugs.
Mr. Maclean : The available information relates to notifiable offences recorded by the police and is contained in the table :
Notifiable offences recorded by the police-certain offences as a
percentage of all offences in Lewisham
Percentages |Burglary in a |Burglary in other |Theft from a vehicle|Homicide
|dwelling |building
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985 |16 |8 |16 |0.03 |0.2
1986 |18 |6 |19 |0.04 |0.1
1987 |15 |7 |21 |0.05 |0.1
1988 |19 |6 |19 |0.01 |0.2
1989 |20 |6 |19 |- |<1>-
1990 |21 |7 |15 |0.03 |0.2
1991 |19 |7 |16 |0.02 |0.2
1992 |20 |7 |14 |0.04 |0.1
<1> Not available
Mrs. Bridget Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were reported to police in the London borough of Lewisham in each year since 1985 ; and what percentage in each year resulted in a conviction.
Mr. Maclean : The available information relates to notifiable offences recorded by the police and is given in the table. It is not possible to link recorded crime statistics with convictions, as the information collected on convictions is compiled on a different basis.
Column 144
Number
|Offences recorded
------------------------------------------------------
1985 |25,943
1986 |27,005
1987 |26,384
1988 |25,210
1989 |26,002
1990 |27,959
1991 |29,775
1992 |31,380
Mrs. Bridget Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent crimes were committed in (a) south-east London as a whole and (b) Lewisham, for each year since 1985.
Mr. Maclean : The information requested is contained in the table :
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