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Home Detention Curfew Scheme
Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2000, Official Report, column 561W, on the home detention curfew scheme, what specific offences are defined as (a) other homicide and attempted homicide, (b) other motoring offences and (c) other offences; how many offenders were released having been convicted of each specific offence; and if he will make a statement. [116482]
Mr. Boateng: Further details of the offences defined as other homicide and attempted homicide, other motoring offences and other offences, and the number of prisoners convicted of each type of offence who have been released on home detention curfew are shown in the table.
(2) Recorded under this code by individual establishments
(3) Other indicatable offences
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Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2000, Official Report, columns 561-62W, on the home detention curfew scheme, how many offenders who committed further offences while on the scheme committed an offence similar in character to that for which they were originally convicted; if he will provide a breakdown by type of offence of such offenders; and if he will make a statement. [116479]
Mr. Boateng:
According to Prison Service records, of the 185 curfewees referred to in the reply I gave on 22 March 2000, Official Report, columns 561-62W, who have been charged with a further offence while subject to home detention curfew, 74 have been charged with an offence similar to that for which they were serving a
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sentence of imprisonment prior to being released on curfew. The table gives a breakdown of the types of offences committed.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Burglary | 20 |
| Theft | 16 |
| Driving/Motoring offences | 12 |
| Assault | 9 |
| Drug offences | 5 |
| Deception | 3 |
| Wounding | 3 |
| Robbery | 2 |
| Breach of Probation Order | 1 |
| Threats to kill | 1 |
| False Imprisonment | 1 |
| Affray | 1 |
| Total | 74 |
Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2000, Official Report, column 561W, on the home detention curfew scheme, how many offenders charged with a further offence committed while on the scheme have been convicted of such an offence; if he will provide a breakdown by type of offence; and if he will make a statement. [116480]
Mr. Boateng: Information is not held centrally on the convictions of those who have committed offences while subject to home detention curfew.
Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2000, Official Report, column 561W, on the home detention curfew scheme, for what reason the original offence committed by 1,001 offenders released on the scheme was not recorded; and if he will make a statement. [116481]
Mr. Boateng:
The statistics on the original offences committed by prisoners released on home detention curfew are taken from the Prison Service computer database, known as the Inmate Information System, and are based on the data entered by each prison. Where offence data are not completed by the prison, the category "offence not recorded" is used at the centre. At a local level, the details of the offence in each case will be known to the establishment before a risk assessment and release on home detention curfew can take place. In assessing a
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prisoner's suitability for release on the scheme, the nature of the offence is an important factor to be taken into account.
Efforts are made to ensure the completeness and accuracy of all data as far as practicable, but there are inevitable errors of omission and commission. Guidance is being issued to establishments stressing the importance of recording the data on original offences as quickly as possible in every case.
Miss Widdecombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum sentence that may be passed on an offender who is eligible for release on the home detention curfew scheme. [116475]
Mr. Boateng:
Under the Criminal Justice Act 1991, as amended by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, no prisoner who has been sentenced to four years or more imprisonment is eligible for release under the home detention curfew scheme.
Miss Widdecombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to his answers of 22 March 2000, Official Report, column 557W, on drug testing procedures under Clause 48 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill, (a) if a positive test would in itself be sufficient proof of an offence of unlawful possession of a controlled drug, (b) what specified Class A drugs will be tested for, (c) if he intends to extend the testing procedure to include Class B drugs and (d) how he intends the tests to be used to assist in appropriate sentencing, and if this includes the length of sentence to be passed; and if he will make a statement. [116472]
Mr. Boateng:
The purpose of drug testing on charge is to identify and monitor drug misusers who may need treatment and to inform any subsequent bail decisions. It is not intended that a positive test will be used to bring a prosecution for unlawful possession. Initially, tests will be made to detect heroin and crack/cocaine which research evidence shows are strongly linked to crimes committed in order to feed a drug habit. The Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill includes provision to extend the range of drugs tested for, including any in Class B, if a similar linkage to commission of crime emerges.
The court will have regard to a positive test on sentencing and can make a drug abstinence order or add an abstinence requirement to a community sentence in cases where the criteria is met.
A positive test result will not be an aggravating factor for sentencing purposes.
Miss Widdecombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the new procedure for appointing local probation boards contained in Schedule 1 to the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill, indicating how it differs from the present procedure. [116476]
Mr. Boateng:
The present procedure is based on the nomination directly to the committee of local magistrates, a member of the judiciary and local authority members. In future, members of probation boards, with the exception of the Lord Chancellor's nominee, will be appointed by the Secretary of State following a process of open, public advertisement.
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We will be looking to recruit members who, in addition to meeting competences, being developed in consultation with the Central Probation Council, will reflect a breadth of experience from the local community. We are working with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments to ensure that these new arrangements meet the highest standards of openness and transparency.
Chief officers will, for the first time, be a member of local boards.
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