House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 8 Jun 2004 (pt 16)

8 Jun 2004 : Column 334W—continued

Protection from Harassment Act

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many (a) police first stage warnings and (b) prosecutions have been made under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in each of the last five years; [170013]

(2) how many people have (a) been imprisoned, (b) received a community sentence and (c) fined as a result of a breach of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997; [170014]

(3) how many prosecutions under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 have involved a (a) racial and (b) religious aggravation element. [170015]

Paul Goggins: The available information is contained in the table. Statistics on religiously aggravated offences were not collected centrally until 2003.

Statistics on court proceedings for 2003 will be published in the autumn of this year.
Number of defendants⁽¹³⁾ proceeded against at the magistrates courts and found guilty and sentenced at all courts under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997

Statute Offence description Year Cautioned Proceeded against Found guilty Sentenced Absolute/
conditional discharge

Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Offence of harassment 1997 171 507 249 248 99

Sec 2 1998 693 4,304 2,221 2,224 763

1999 1,147 5,427 27,09 2,700 973

⁽¹⁴⁾2000 1,693 5,760 2,852 2,853 901

2001 1,861 5,627 2,704 2,711 915

2002 1,993 5,594 2,764 2,765 878

Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Racially aggravated offence of 1997 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Sec 2 as amended by Crime & Disorder harassment 1998 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Act 1998, Sec 32(1) (a) (3) 1999 37 113 44 45 8

⁽¹⁴⁾2000 48 217 81 81 12

2001 76 246 102 102 10

2002 35 248 99 102 10

Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Breach of conditions of an 1997 1 7 3 3 —

Sec 3 injunction against harassment 1998 8 23 14 14 1

1999 5 30 13 15 —

⁽¹⁴⁾2000 5 40 22 21 3

2001 2 31 14 18 —

2002 4 44 23 26 2

Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Putting people in fear of violence 1997 51 243 76 76 17

Sec 4 1998 173 1,505 522 514 108

1999 283 1,632 488 494 81

⁽¹⁴⁾2000 403 1,585 515 520 104

2001 577 1,502 535 539 83

2002 655 1,470 585 582 61

Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Racially aggravated putting 1997 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Sec 4 as amended by Crime & Disorder people in fear of violence 1998 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Act 1998, Sec32 (1) (b) (4) 1999 15 63 25 25 4

⁽¹⁴⁾2000 15 118 59 60 7

2001 7 149 55 55 8

2002 7 130 53 52 6

Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Breach of restraining order 1997 — 23 16 14 2

Sec 5 1998 10 357 274 273 35

1999 3 669 461 471 60

⁽¹⁴⁾2000 1 777 557 561 65

2001 4 776 539 534 76

2002 2 847 604 597 88

8 Jun 2004 : Column 335W

Statute Offence description Year Fine Community sentence Fully suspended sentence Immediate custody Otherwise dealt with

Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Offence of harassment 1997 56 48 3 33 9

Sec 2 1998 512 591 18 245 95

1999 574 722 13 294 124

⁽¹⁴⁾2000 620 860 29 305 138

2001 559 815 12 284 126

2002 517 923 10 288 149

Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Racially aggravated offence of 1997 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Sec 2 as amended by Crime & Disorder harassment 1998 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Act 1998, Sec 32(1) (a) (3) 1999 3 14 — 16 4

⁽¹⁴⁾2000 10 29 4 24 2

2001 13 52 — 23 4

2002 11 53 — 23 5

Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Breach of conditions of an 1997 — 1 — 2 —

Sec 3 injunction against harassment 1998 1 6 — 5 1

1999 6 2 — 6 1

⁽¹⁴⁾2000 7 3 2 6 —

2001 8 6 1 3 —

2002 8 8 4 3 1

Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Putting people in fear of violence 1997 16 24 1 16 2

Sec 4 1998 66 194 6 121 19

1999 80 194 8 116 15

⁽¹⁴⁾2000 49 188 9 148 22

2001 54 223 12 142 25

2002 45 237 9 167 63

Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Racially aggravated putting 1997 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Sec 4 as amended by Crime & Disorder people in fear of violence 1998 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Act 1998, Sec32 (1) (b) (4) 1999 3 12 — 6 —

⁽¹⁴⁾2000 2 26 — 22 3

2001 3 26 — 16 2

2002 6 23 2 15 —

Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Breach of restraining order 1997 1 1 — 10 —

Sec 5 1998 53 57 3 123 2

1999 89 94 12 206 10

⁽¹⁴⁾2000 86 154 13 226 17

2001 93 142 14 193 16

2002 101 169 11 206 22

n/a = Not applicable.
⁽¹³⁾ These data are on the principal offence basis.
⁽¹⁴⁾ Staffordshire police were only able to submit sample data for persons dealt with at magistrates courts in 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table.

8 Jun 2004 : Column 337W

Statute	Offence description	Year	Cautioned	Proceeded against	Found guilty	Sentenced	Absolute/ conditional discharge
Protection from Harassment Act 1997	Offence of harassment	1997	171	507	249	248	99
Sec 2		1998	693	4,304	2,221	2,224	763
		1999	1,147	5,427	27,09	2,700	973
		⁽¹⁴⁾2000	1,693	5,760	2,852	2,853	901
		2001	1,861	5,627	2,704	2,711	915
		2002	1,993	5,594	2,764	2,765	878

Protection from Harassment Act 1997	Racially aggravated offence of	1997	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Sec 2 as amended by Crime & Disorder	harassment	1998	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Act 1998, Sec 32(1) (a) (3)		1999	37	113	44	45	8
		⁽¹⁴⁾2000	48	217	81	81	12
		2001	76	246	102	102	10
		2002	35	248	99	102	10

Protection from Harassment Act 1997	Breach of conditions of an	1997	1	7	3	3	—
Sec 3	injunction against harassment	1998	8	23	14	14	1
		1999	5	30	13	15	—
		⁽¹⁴⁾2000	5	40	22	21	3
		2001	2	31	14	18	—
		2002	4	44	23	26	2

Protection from Harassment Act 1997	Putting people in fear of violence	1997	51	243	76	76	17
Sec 4		1998	173	1,505	522	514	108
		1999	283	1,632	488	494	81
		⁽¹⁴⁾2000	403	1,585	515	520	104
		2001	577	1,502	535	539	83
		2002	655	1,470	585	582	61

Protection from Harassment Act 1997	Racially aggravated putting	1997	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Sec 4 as amended by Crime & Disorder	people in fear of violence	1998	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Act 1998, Sec32 (1) (b) (4)		1999	15	63	25	25	4
		⁽¹⁴⁾2000	15	118	59	60	7
		2001	7	149	55	55	8
		2002	7	130	53	52	6

Protection from Harassment Act 1997	Breach of restraining order	1997	—	23	16	14	2
Sec 5		1998	10	357	274	273	35
		1999	3	669	461	471	60
		⁽¹⁴⁾2000	1	777	557	561	65
		2001	4	776	539	534	76
		2002	2	847	604	597	88

Statute	Offence description	Year	Fine	Community sentence	Fully suspended sentence	Immediate custody	Otherwise dealt with
Protection from Harassment Act 1997	Offence of harassment	1997	56	48	3	33	9
Sec 2		1998	512	591	18	245	95
		1999	574	722	13	294	124
		⁽¹⁴⁾2000	620	860	29	305	138
		2001	559	815	12	284	126
		2002	517	923	10	288	149

Protection from Harassment Act 1997	Racially aggravated offence of	1997	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Sec 2 as amended by Crime & Disorder	harassment	1998	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Act 1998, Sec 32(1) (a) (3)		1999	3	14	—	16	4
		⁽¹⁴⁾2000	10	29	4	24	2
		2001	13	52	—	23	4
		2002	11	53	—	23	5

Protection from Harassment Act 1997	Breach of conditions of an	1997	—	1	—	2	—
Sec 3	injunction against harassment	1998	1	6	—	5	1
		1999	6	2	—	6	1
		⁽¹⁴⁾2000	7	3	2	6	—
		2001	8	6	1	3	—
		2002	8	8	4	3	1

Protection from Harassment Act 1997	Putting people in fear of violence	1997	16	24	1	16	2
Sec 4		1998	66	194	6	121	19
		1999	80	194	8	116	15
		⁽¹⁴⁾2000	49	188	9	148	22
		2001	54	223	12	142	25
		2002	45	237	9	167	63
Protection from Harassment Act 1997	Racially aggravated putting	1997	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Sec 4 as amended by Crime & Disorder	people in fear of violence	1998	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Act 1998, Sec32 (1) (b) (4)		1999	3	12	—	6	—
		⁽¹⁴⁾2000	2	26	—	22	3
		2001	3	26	—	16	2
		2002	6	23	2	15	—

Protection from Harassment Act 1997	Breach of restraining order	1997	1	1	—	10	—
Sec 5		1998	53	57	3	123	2
		1999	89	94	12	206	10
		⁽¹⁴⁾2000	86	154	13	226	17
		2001	93	142	14	193	16
		2002	101	169	11	206	22

Racial Harassment

Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times powers to prevent racial harassment have been used in Oldham, West and Royton. [170955]

Fiona Mactaggart: Figures for the number of prosecutions in Oldham, West and Royton for this type of offence are not centrally available. Greater Manchester police figures for harassment offences (published by the Home Office under the requirements of S95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991) show a total of 2,075 recorded offences of this type in the Greater Manchester police area over the period 1999–2000 to 2001–02.

Reoffending

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how individual prisons will be held to account in order to reduce the reoffending of discharged prisoners. [167518]

Paul Goggins: Under the National Offender Management Service prison governors will continue to be accountable for the running of prisons. Over time regional offender managers will become responsible for ensuring the effective management of all offenders regardless of whether they have received a custodial or community sentence or a combination of the two. They will also commission services from prisons in the public and private sectors and specify standards to which each should perform. The regional offender managers will be line managed by the national offender manager who will report directly to the chief executive and will be responsible for reducing re-offending.

Reconviction Rate

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how much the reconviction rate has changed since the introduction of the private sector to the Prison Service. [168396]

8 Jun 2004 : Column 338W

Paul Goggins: The first private prison opened in 1992. Figures for the number and percentage of prisoners re-convicted within two years of discharge from prison are given in Prison Statistics, England and Wales, 2002. Table 9.1 shows reconviction rates for samples of discharged prisoners in each of the years 1987 to 1999. The related text explains that to compare reconviction rates over time it is necessary to control for changes in the characteristics of discharged prisoners, such as age and previous criminal history, which are strongly associated with reconviction rates.

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