To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases were referred to the Crown Prosecution Service by the Thames Valley Police in each of the last three years; what percentage of referred cases were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service; and what percentage of referred cases resulted in a criminal conviction. [123912]
The CPS holds records for each of the 42 Areas of the Service. These are not always coterminous with the boundaries of the 43 police forces; Thames Valley is an area where the police boundary differs from that of the Crown Prosecution Service. Further, cases may be completed in an area different from that in which they originated.The following tables show the number of cases received by CPS Thames Valley in magistrates courts and in the Crown court for each of the last three years, and the eventual outcome of proceedings. The number of cases dealt with may differ from the number received because incomplete proceedings are carried over from year to year. Cases may result in a number of different outcomes: these are shown in full to provide a complete picture.
| CPS Thames Valley receipts and outcomes magistrates courts | |||
| 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | |
| Received | 39,881 | 56,335 | 55,161 |
| Discontinued | 5,643 | 8,721 | 8,120 |
| Percentage | 15.3 | 16.1 | 15.2 |
| Boundover | 699 | 1,069 | 1,119 |
| Percentage | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.1 |
| CPS Thames valley receipts and outcomes magistrates courts | |||
| 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | |
| Written off | 3,442 | 3,821 | 5,740 |
| Percentage | 9.4 | 7.1 | 10.7 |
| Committed | 1,524 | 2,080 | 2,073 |
| Percentage | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| Dismissed | 364 | 403 | 434 |
| Percentage | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Convicted | 25,095 | 38,086 | 35,954 |
| Percentage | 68.3 | 70.3 | 67.3 |
Definitions of categories:
Magistrates courts:
Received: cases received from the police during each year, including cases referred for pre-charge advice as well as those which were the subject of charge or summons;
Discontinued: all cases where the CPS decided not to proceed before evidence was heard;
Bound over: cases where the CPS agreed to accept a bind over, and no trial was held;
Written off: cases which could not proceed because the police could not trace the defendant, or the defendant had died or been found unfit to plead;
Convicted: includes guilty pleas as well as convictions after trial.
Note:
Each case represents one defendant. Case outcomes are expressed as a percentage of completed cases for each year.
Crown court
| |||
2000–01
| 2001–02
| 2002–03
| |
| Received | 2,258 | 2,740 | 3,121 |
| Judge ordered acquittals | 105 | 204 | 250 |
| Percentage | 7.1 | 12.1 | 12.4 |
| Bound over | 8 | 13 | 34 |
| Percentage | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.7 |
| Written off | 2 | 22 | 49 |
| Percentage | 0.1 | 1.3 | 2.4 |
| Acquitted | 220 | 177 | 174 |
| Percentage | 15.0 | 10.5 | 8.6 |
| Convicted | 1,136 | 1,272 | 1,505 |
| Percentage | 77.2 | 75.4 | 74.8 |
Definitions of categories:
Crown court:
Received: all cases received from magistrates courts, including appeals and committals for sentence as well as those committed for trial;
Judge ordered acquittals: cases where CPS decided not to proceed before a jury was sworn;
Bound over: cases where the CPS agreed to accept a bind over, and no trial was held;
Written off: cases which could not proceed because the police could not trace the defendant, or the defendant had died or been found unfit to plead;
Convicted: includes guilty pleas as well as convictions after trial.
Note:
Each case represents one defendant. Case outcomes are expressed as a percentage of completed cases for each year.