5 Dec 2006 : Column 286W—continued
5 Dec 2006 : Column 287W
Illegal Workers
Jim Cousins:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which section of (a) his Department and (b) other Government Departments have the responsibility of (i) identifying workers working illegally and (ii) taking action in such circumstances. [106002]
Mr. Byrne
[holding answer 28 November 2006]: The immigration and nationality directorate (IND) has the prime responsibility for identifying workers taking action in such circumstances.
A number of other Government Departments may also encounter evidence of illegal migrant working during the course of their own operations and legal gateways exist for a range of law enforcement agencies to share such information with IND. IND looks to maximise the number of illegal workers removed from
5 Dec 2006 : Column 288W
the UK in line with public protection undertakings and other operational priorities.
We are currently developing a cross-government enforcement strategy to shut down fraudulent access to benefits and services, tackle illegal working and remove more of the people who are not entitled to be here, as announced in the IND Review.
Knife Crime
Lady Hermon:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of those convicted of bladed article offences and sentenced to imprisonment in England and Wales received sentences of (a) up to six months, (b) six to 12 months, (c) 12 to 18 months and (d) 18 to 24 months in each of the last five years. [104367]
Mr. McNulty:
The information requested, relating to England and Wales for the years 2001 to 2005, is contained in the table.
| Persons sentenced to immediate custody for bladed article offences, England and Wales, 2001 to 2005 |
| Offence | Statute | Custodial sentence length | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 |
|
Having an article with a blade or point in a public place
|
Criminal Justice Act 1988, section 139
|
Less than 6 months (%)
|
91
|
88
|
88
|
88
|
88
|
| | |
6 months and less than 12 months (%)
|
8
|
10
|
9
|
11
|
9
|
| | |
12 months and less than 18 months (%)
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
| | |
18 months and less than 24 months (%)
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
| | |
24 months (%)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
(1)—
|
0
|
| | |
Total (number)
|
589
|
766
|
755
|
803
|
965
|
|
Having an article with a blade or point on school premises
|
Criminal Justice Act 1988, section 139A(1) as added by the Offensive Weapons Act 1996 section 4(1)
|
Less than 6 months (%)
|
33
|
100
|
83
|
92
|
80
|
| | |
6 months and less than 12 months (%)
|
67
|
(1)—
|
17
|
8
|
(1)—
|
| | |
12 months and less than 18 months (%)
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
20
|
| | |
18 months and less than 24 months (%)
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
| | |
24 months (%)
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
| | |
Total (number)
|
3
|
7
|
6
|
12
|
5
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
Total of both the above
| |
Less than 6 months (%)
|
91
|
88
|
88
|
88
|
88
|
| | |
6 months and less than 12 months (%)
|
8
|
10
|
9
|
11
|
9
|
| | |
12 months and less than 18 months (%)
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
| | |
18 months and less than 24 months (%)
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
| | |
24 months (%)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
(1)—
|
0
|
| | |
Total (number|)
|
592
|
773
|
761
|
815
|
970
|
| | | | | | |
|
Other offences that may include bladed articles
| | | | | |
|
Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or reasonable excuse
|
Prevention of Crime Act 1953, section 1
|
Less than 6 months (%)
|
81
|
80
|
78
|
80
|
78
|
| | |
6 months and less than 12 months (%)
|
13
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
| | |
12 months and less than 18 months (%)
|
3
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
4
|
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5 Dec 2006 : Column 290W
| | |
18 months and less than 24 months (%)
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
| | |
24 months or more (%)
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
| | |
Total (number)
|
634
|
787
|
760
|
817
|
829
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or reasonable excuse on school premises
|
Criminal Justice Act 1988, section 139(2) as added by the Offensive Weapons Act 1996 section 4(1)
|
Less than 6 months (%)
|
100
|
40
|
25
|
50
|
33
|
| | |
6 months and less than 12 months (%)
|
(1)—
|
60
|
25
|
25
|
67
|
| | |
12 months and less than 18 months (%)
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
25
|
25
|
(1)—
|
| | |
18 months and less than 24 months (%)
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
| | |
24 months or more (%)
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
25
|
(1)—
|
(1)—
|
| | |
Total (number)
|
3
|
5
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
Total of both the above
| |
Less than 6 months (%)
|
81
|
80
|
78
|
80
|
78
|
| | |
6 months and less than 12 months (%)
|
13
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
| | |
12 months and less than 18 months (%)
|
3
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
| | |
18 months and less than 24 months (%)
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
| | |
24 months or more (%)
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
| | |
Total (number)
|
637
|
792
|
764
|
821
|
832
|
(1) Nil.
0% = less than 0.5%.
Note:
Although care is taken in collating and analysing the returns used to compile these figures, the data are of necessity subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system. Consequently, although figures are shown to the last digit in order to provide a comprehensive record of the information collected, they are not necessarily accurate to the last digit shown.
Source:
RDS-NOMS, Home Office
|
