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20 July 2006 : Column 614W—continued
| Number | |||||||||
| Prison type | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
| (1 )Juvenile custody units run by the Prison Service use a wide definition of self-harm that includes all acts of self-injury, however serious (n.b. the same definition applies to the prison and YOI data). The data included from STCs and SCHs is mainly based on a definition of self-harm that includes self-harm incidents which represent significant events such that they are reportable under the Children's Homes Regulations. Two STCs and two SCHs, however, use a definition of self-harm similar to the Prison Service. Some STCs and SCHs were unable to provide this data for the earlier period covered by this Question because either the information was not collected, or only the total number of recorded incidents was collected (i.e. not only self-harm incidents; in which case it represented disproportionate cost to examine each incident report). In the future the YJB will provide clear definitions and recording requirements with respect to self-harm. Note: A new form specifically for reporting self-harm (the F213SH) was introduced in Prison Service establishments in December 2002 (i.e. in prisons, YOIs and juvenile prisons). The rise in reported self-harm from 2003 may therefore partly reflect improved reporting rather than an actual increase in self-harm incidents. Prior to December 2002. Self-harm was reported using the general incident reporting form (the F213), which resulted in significant under-reporting. The data from 2003 onwards cannot therefore be directly compared to earlier years. | |||||||||
Sentencing
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what average length of custodial sentence was (a) handed out in each of the last nine years and (b) served by offenders released in each of the last nine years; [84400]
(2) what average length of custodial sentence was (a) handed out for and (b) served by those offenders convicted of (i) rape, (ii) murder, (iii) robbery, (iv) manslaughter, (v) sexual assault and (vi) non-fatal criminal assault with knives and bladed instruments who have been released in each of the last nine years; [84401]
(3) what average length of custodial sentence was (a) handed out and (b) served by those convicted of (i) possession with intent to supply Class (A) A, (B) B and (C) C drugs and (ii) simple possession of each category of drugs who were released in each of the last nine years; [84409]
(4) what average length of custodial sentence was (a) handed out and (b) served by those convicted of (i) grievous bodily harm with intent, (ii) grievous bodily harm, (iii) actual bodily harm and (iv) assault who were released in each of the last nine years. [84410]
Mr. Coaker: The tables set out the available information requested on average custodial sentence length imposed in England and Wales for the years 1996 to 2004, the latest year for which figures are currently available.
Figures on non-fatal criminal assault with knives and bladed instruments are not available centrally as details of the nature of the offence are not collected on the Home Office Court Proceedings database.
Average time served for life sentenced prisoners (mandatory and other lifers) released from prison on life licence between 1994 and 2004 is published in table 10.5 of Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2004.
Information on the average time served and average sentence length of prisoners discharged from determinate sentences in 2004 is published in tables 10.1 and 10.2 of Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2004. Statistics for the years 1997 to 2002 are given in tables 10.1 and 10.2 Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2003, and tables 3.13 and 4.11 of Prison Statistics England and Wales 1997 to 2002. The data, which are obtained from the prison IT system, are not shown separately for specific offences as accuracy at this level of detail cannot be guaranteed.
Although care is taken in collating and analysing the returns used to compile such figures, the data are of necessity subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system.
We have started a programme of work in the Home Office looking at the quality of existing data on court sentencing and prisoners and how this might be improved.
| Average custodial sentence length in months( 1) for possession and possession with intent to supply of Class A, Class B and Class C drugs, 1996-2004 | ||||||
| Possession | Possession with intent to supply | |||||
| Class A | Class B | Class C | Class A | Class B | Class C | |
| Average custodial sentence length in months for grievous bodily harm with intent, grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm and assault, 1996-2004 | ||||
| Grievous bodily harm with intent | Grievous bodily harm without intent | Actual bodily harm | Assault( 2) | |
| Average custodial sentence length in months( 1) for rape, murder, robbery, manslaughter( 3) and sexual assault( 4) 1996-2004 | |||||
| Rape | Murder | Robbery | Manslaughter | Sexual assault | |
| Average custodial sentence length in months, all offences 1996-2004 | |
| All offences | |
| (1) Excluding life sentences (2) Common assault and assault on a police officer (3) Common Law Manslaughter and Manslaughter due to diminished responsibility (4) Indecent assault on males and females (5) Murder carries a mandatory life sentence Source: RDS NOMS 11 July 2006 | |
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