The available information is shown in the following table. Data for 2008 will not be available until “Sentencing Statistics 2008” is published later in the year.
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Fine (number) 90 115 90 113 74 67 82 50 56 51 49 Fine (percentage) 80.4 89.1 88 2 84.3 82.2 87.0 88.2 87.7 81.2 89.5 98.0 Community Sentence (number) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Community Sentence (percentage) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Custodial Sentence (number) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Custodial Sentence (percentage) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Discharge (number) 22 14 12 21 16 9 11 7 13 5 1 Discharge (percentage) 19.6 10.9 11.8 15.7 17.8 11.7 11.8 12.3 18.8 8.8 2.0 Otherwise Dealt With (number) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Otherwise Dealt With (percentage) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.8 0.0 Total 112 129 102 134 90 77 93 57 69 57 50 Maximum Fine (£) 1,250 2,000 1,500 2,000 2,000 2,000 1,700 1,500 2,000 1,650 2,500 Minimum Fine (£) 40 10 10 50 50 50 50 35 30 40 60 Average (£) 238 226 237 349 301 283 322 274 328 330 324 Notes: 1. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. 2. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. Source: OMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice.
The table shows the total number of persons sentenced to a fine, community sentence, custodial sentence or an alternative punishment for each year since 1997. The data also show the average maximum and minimum fine imposed on those sentenced for selling tobacco to a minor in each year. These data are presented on the principal offence basis. Where an offender has been sentenced for more than one offence, the principal offence is the one for which the heaviest sentence was imposed. Where the same sentence has been imposed for two or more offences, the principal offence is the one for which the statutory maximum is most severe.