Chris Grayling:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people attempting to enter the UK were convicted of offences related to the importation and possession of (a) firearms and (b) drugs in each year since 1998; and how many of these offenders received the maximum prison sentence or highest fine applicable in each year. [318698]
Claire Ward:
The number of persons found guilty at all courts in England and Wales for offences of attempting to enter the UK, from 1998 to 2008 (latest available) is given in the table.
Data given in the table are on the principle offence basis which relates to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. For example, when a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
The Court Proceedings Database holds information in relation to the offence as stipulated by law. From this information it is not possible to ascertain at what point an offence was committed. It is therefore not possible to separately identify those offences that were committed at the time of attempting to enter the UK.
Data for 2009 are planned for publication in autumn, 2010.
Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences of attempting to enter the UK, England and Wales, 1998 to 2008( 1,2,3)
Offence
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Entering UK in breach of deportation order
Proceeded against
5
6
2
2
8
10
7
9
7
10
13
Found guilty
4
5
2
1
7
7
7
6
7
6
11
Entering UK without leave
Proceeded against
16
17
19
31
46
51
30
43
75
42
7
Found guilty
7
15
14
24
36
39
24
33
63
26
7
Total
Proceeded against
21
23
21
33
54
61
37
52
82
52
20
Found guilty
11
20
16
25
43
46
31
39
70
32
18
(1) Statistics given are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Excludes convictions for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source:
Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice
1 Mar 2010 : Column 929W
HM Courts Service: Debt Collection
John McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many court enforcement officers HM Courts Service employed in each quarter since January 2005. [318916]
Bridget Prentice:
Currently the total number of civilian enforcement officers (CEOs) employed by HMCS is 497. HMCS are unable to provide the number of CEOs employed in previous years' quarters without incurring a disproportionate cost as the specific information relating to CEOs cannot easily be extracted from information held on total numbers of employees.
Human Trafficking
Chris Grayling:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were convicted of offences related to (a) drug trafficking, (b) people trafficking, 1 Mar 2010 : Column 930W (c) firearm trafficking and (d) wildlife crimes committed while attempting to enter the UK in each year since 1998. [317657]
Claire Ward:
The number of persons found guilty at all courts for offences related to drug trafficking, people trafficking, firearm trafficking and endangered species trafficking, England and Wales, 1998 to 2008 (latest available) is shown in the following table. Information available centrally through the Court Proceedings Database holds information in relation to the offence as stipulated by law. From this information it is not possible to ascertain at what point an offence was committed.
Data for offences under the 'Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997' are part of a miscellaneous group of offences for which 2008 data are not yet separately available. I will write to the hon. Member when these data become available.
Data for 2009 are planned for publication in the autumn, 2010.
Number of defendants found guilty at all courts for offences related to drugs trafficking, people trafficking, firearms trafficking, and endangered species trafficking, England and Wales, from 1998 to 2008( 1,2,3)
Offence description
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008( 1)
Unlawful importation of a drug controlled under misuse of Drugs Act 1971
1,190
1,171
1,165
1,648
1,599
1,063
975
1,026
835
783
745
Unlawful exportation of a drug controlled under misuse of Drugs Act 1971
59
25
40
30
21
18
37
35
35
36
31
Production of or being concerned in the production of a controlled drug.
1,779
1,477
1,175
952
1,114
1,657
1,379
1,360
1,480
2,120
2,627
Having possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.
5,549
5,069
4,607
4,405
4,452
4,834
4,887
5,097
5,062
5,499
6,443
Supplying or offering to supply (or being concerned in supplying or offering to supply) a controlled drug.
3,819
3,717
3,341
3,214
3,300
3,461
3,619
3,707
3,499
3,507
3,940
Having a controlled drug in possession on a ship; Being knowingly concerned in the carrying or concealing of a controlled drug on a ship.
16
1
1
6
1
1
1
1
1
1
-
Concealing or transferring the proceeds of drug trafficking; Assisting another person to retain the benefit of drug trafficking; Acquisition, possession or Use of proceeds of drug trafficking.
16
30
26
42
38
49
27
20
6
7
6
Sub-total drugs trafficking offences(4)
12,428
11,490
10,355
10,297
10,525
11,083
10,925
11,246
10,918
11,953
13,792
Arranging or facilitating arrival of a person into the UK for sexual exploitation (trafficking)
*
*
*
*
*
*
-
9
6
9
11
Trafficking people into the UK for the purpose of exploitation
*
*
*
*
*
*
-
-
3
-
-
Sub-total people trafficking offences(5)
*
*
*
*
*
*
-
9
9
9
11
Offence in relation to the unlawful importation of any weapon or ammunition of a kind mentioned in s.5(1)(a), (ab), (aba), (ac), (ad), (ae), (af) or (c) of the Firearms Act 1968.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
2
2
3
Sub-total firearms trafficking offences(6)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
2
2
3
Offences under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997
-
-
6
6
3
2
3
-
10
-
(7)n/a
1 Mar 2010 : Column 931W
1 Mar 2010 : Column 932W
Sub-total endangered species trafficking offences
-
-
6
6
3
2
3
-
10
-
(7)n/a
(1) Excludes convictions for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. (2) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Includes offences under statutes: Customs and Excise Management Act 1979; Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as amended by Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990; Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. (5) Includes offences under statutes: Sexual Offences Act 2003, sections 57 & 58; Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act 2004, section 4(1) & (5). (6) Includes offences under statute: Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, section 50(1)(2)(3)(4) & (5A). (7) Offences under the 'Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997' form part of a miscellaneous group of offences for which 2008 data are not yet separately available. Source:
Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice.
