The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
Mr. Arthur Lewis
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 4,800 untried and unconvicted prisoners incarcerated in British prisons on 31 January had been in prison for periods between one to three months, three to six months, six months to one year and more than one year; and whether, in pursuance of his policy of reducing pressure within prisons, he will release these people rather than release or shorten sentences of convicted criminals.
Mr. Mayhew
[pursuant to his reply, 18 March 1982, c. 173–74]: The information available is given in the following table:
| Estimated population of untried and unconvicted prisoners in prison department establishment in England and Wales on 31 January 1982: by length of time since initial remand in custody | |
| Length of time since initial remand in custody* | Estimated number |
| Up to 1 month | 2,200 |
| Over 1 month up to 3 months | 1,500 |
| Over 3 months up to 6 months | 800 |
| Over 6 months up to 12 months | 400 |
| Over 12 months | 100 |
| Total | †5,000 |
| * Including any time which may have been spent on bail after the initial remand in custody. | |
| † Figure revised from "about 4,800" given in a previous reply, 11 March 1982, c. 466. | |
| Offences currently recorded as homicide where the victim was a police officer on duty by apparent method of killing and outcome of court proceedings. | ||
| England and Wales | ||
| Year of offence | Method of killing | Court disposal of principal suspect |
| 1965 | Shooting | Unfit to plead |
| Sharp instrument | Death commuted to life imprisonment | |
| 1966 | Shooting | Life imprisonment |
| Shooting | Life imprisonment | |
| Shooting | Life imprisonment | |
| Sharp instrument | Detained during Her Majesty's Pleasure | |
| 1967 | Car | 8 years imprisonment |
| 1968 | — | — |
| 1969 | Sharp instrument | Hospital order (s. 60/65 Mental Health Act 1959) |
| 1970 | Shooting | Life imprisonment |
| 1971 | Shooting | Life imprisonment |
| Shooting | Life imprisonment | |
| 1972 | Shooting | Life imprisonment |
| 1973 | Car | 7 years imprisonment |
| Shooting | Life imprisonment | |
| 1974 | Shooting | Life imprisonment |
| 1975 | Shooting | No suspect(*) |
| Sharp instrument | Life imprisonment | |
| Shooting | Life imprisonment | |
| 1976 | — | — |
| 1977 | Sharp instrument | Life imprisonment |
| 1978 | Blunt instrument | Life imprisonment |
| 1979 | Sharp instrument | 8 years imprisonment |
| 1980 | Sharp instrument | Life imprisonment |
| 1981† | Sharp instrument | Detained during Her Majesty's Pleasure |
| Car | 9 years imprisonment | |
| (*) This offence is currently recorded as attributed to an act of terrorism. The alleged offender is still being sought. | ||
| (†) Provisional. | ||