Crime: Northern Ireland Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government: For each year from 1998, how many persons aged under 18 years in Northern Ireland were (a) charged with criminal offences, (b) cautioned or (c) convicted; how many of those convicted had committed (1) sexual offences or (2) crimes of violence; and whether there were any other disposals. [HL1976] Lord Rooker The data are not available in the format requested. In relation to the number charged or reported for prosecution, prior to the introduction of the Causeway programme in June 2005, this information was collated only once the police had prosecuted in court. Figures for 1998 to 2005 therefore relate to the number of persons aged 10 to 17 years who were prosecuted in court. After June 2005, this information was recorded once the police recommended prosecution, which was taken forward by the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland and therefore figures for 2006 and 2007 relate to the number of charges. Table 1 gives the number of persons aged 10 to 17 years who were prosecuted or charged for offences, and the number subsequently convicted for criminal offences, while table 2 provides information on the disposals given to those convicted. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) weeding policy meant that caution records, for certain offences, after appropriate periods of time were “weeded out” in compliance with data protection and rehabilitation of offenders legislation. Since Bichard (2006), PSNI has stopped weeding. Data are therefore not available for the years 1998 to 2005; in 2006 there were 2,529 cautions and in 2007 there were 1,707 cautions. A violent crime is defined as one which relates to sexual, violence against the person and robbery offences. Table 3 shows the total number of persons aged 10 to 17 years prosecuted and convicted for violent offences broken down by type of offence, while tables 4 to 7 provide information on disposals given to those convicted for these offences. Tables 8 and 10 provide information on the number of persons aged 10 to 17 years who were prosecuted and convicted for other non-violent offences broken down by indictable and non-indictable offences, while Tables 9 and 11 provide information on the disposals given to those convicted for these categories. Data in table 1 cover the calendar years 1998 to 2007 (the latest available year for which charges are available) while data in tables 2 to 11 cover the calendar years 1998 to 2006 (the latest available year for which convictions are available). Data are collated on the principal offence rule, so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included. Table 1 Number aged 10-17 years prosecuted/charged and convicted 1998-2007 -------------------------------------------------- | |Number prosecuted/charged1|Number convicted| -------------------------------------------------- |1998|2,203 |1,848 | -------------------------------------------------- |1999|1,881 |1,586 | -------------------------------------------------- |2000|2,066 |1,721 | -------------------------------------------------- |2001|2,029 |1,619 | -------------------------------------------------- |2002|2,031 |1,667 | -------------------------------------------------- |2003|2,015 |1,588 | -------------------------------------------------- |2004|1,958 |1,588 | -------------------------------------------------- |2005|1,793 |1,455 | -------------------------------------------------- |2006|1,669 |1,273 | -------------------------------------------------- |2007|2,927 |- | -------------------------------------------------- 1. Data for 1998 to 2005 relate to the number of prosecutions. (Source: NIO Statistics and Research Branch); Data for 2006 and 2007 relate to the number of charges (Source: PSNI). 2. Conviction data for 2007 are not available. Table 2 Disposals given to those convicted aged 10 to 17 years 1998-20061 ------------------------------------------------------------ | |1998 |1999 |2000 |2001 |2002 | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Immediate custody |259 |171 |186 |147 |151 | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Suspended custody |72 |67 |55 |37 |48 | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Supervision in the Community|542 |427 |510 |473 |517 | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Fine |492 |484 |464 |429 |439 | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Conditional discharge |361 |334 |383 |424 |394 | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Youth Conference Order |- |- |- | |- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Other |122 |103 |123 |109 |118 | ------------------------------------------------------------ |Total |1,848|1,586|1,721|1,619|1,667| ------------------------------------------------------------ Table 2 cont. ------------------------------------------------------ | |2003 |2004 |2005 |2006 | ------------------------------------------------------ |Immediate custody |139 |152 |144 |89 | ------------------------------------------------------ |Suspended custody |64 |85 |72 |32 | ------------------------------------------------------ |Supervision in the Community|490 |497 |443 |370 | ------------------------------------------------------ |Fine |391 |401 |348 |243 | ------------------------------------------------------ |Conditional discharge |367 |330 |299 |206 | ------------------------------------------------------ |Youth Conference Order |- |21 |72 |289 | ------------------------------------------------------ |Other |137 |102 |77 |44 | ------------------------------------------------------ |Total |1,588|1,588|1,455|1,273| ------------------------------------------------------ 1. Source: NIO Statistics and Research Branch. Table 3 Number aged 10 to 17 years prosecuted and convicted of violent offences (sexual offences, violence against the person offences and robbery offences) 1998-20061 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Number prosecuted|Number convicted|Number prosecuted|Number convicted| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |1998|18 |18 |189 |156 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |1999|18 |15 |168 |144 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2000|10 |9 |182 |160 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2001|8 |3 |179 |131 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2002|8 |6 |202 |151 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2003|11 |8 |219 |164 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2004|19 |13 |250 |181 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2005|16 |9 |195 |146 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2006|13 |8 |213 |152 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 3 cont. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Number prosecuted|Number convicted|Number prosecuted|Number convicted| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |1998|13 |10 |220 |184 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |1999|19 |18 |205 |177 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2000|23 |20 |215 |189 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2001|18 |16 |205 |150 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2002|32 |31 |242 |188 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2003|25 |21 |255 |193 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2004|21 |17 |290 |211 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2005|17 |8 |228 |163 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2006|13 |11 |239 |171 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Source: NIO Statistics and Research Branch. Table 4 Disposals given to those aged 10 to 17 years convicted of sexual offences 1998-20061 ------------------------------------------------------- | |1998|1999|2000|2001|2002| ------------------------------------------------------- |Immediate custody |6 |6 |2 |1 |2 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Suspended custody |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Supervision in the Community|9 |9 |6 |1 |2 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Fine |0 |0 |1 |1 |0 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Conditional discharge |3 |0 |0 |0 |2 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Youth Conference Order |- |- |- |- |- | ------------------------------------------------------- |Other |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Total |18 |15 |9 |3 |6 | ------------------------------------------------------- Table 4 cont. -------------------------------------------------- | |2003|2004|2005|2006| -------------------------------------------------- |Immediate custody |0 |3 |2 |2 | -------------------------------------------------- |Suspended custody |0 |3 |0 |1 | -------------------------------------------------- |Supervision in the Community|7 |7 |5 |3 | -------------------------------------------------- |Fine |0 |0 |0 |0 | -------------------------------------------------- |Conditional discharge |1 |0 |1 |2 | -------------------------------------------------- |Youth Conference Order |- |0 |0 |0 | -------------------------------------------------- |Other |0 |0 |1 |0 | -------------------------------------------------- |Total |8 |13 |9 |8 | -------------------------------------------------- 1. Source: NIO Statistics and Research Branch. Table 5 Disposals given to those aged 10 to 17 years convicted of offences of violence against the person 1998-20061 ------------------------------------------------------- | |1998|1999|2000|2001|2002| ------------------------------------------------------- |Immediate custody |15 |24 |16 |11 |17 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Suspended custody |10 |9 |7 |6 |10 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Supervision in the Community|57 |44 |56 |44 |52 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Fine |27 |31 |36 |27 |28 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Conditional discharge |39 |26 |34 |36 |37 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Youth Conference Order |- |- |- |- |- | ------------------------------------------------------- |Other |8 |10 |11 |7 |7 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Total |156 |144 |160 |131 |151 | ------------------------------------------------------- Table 5 cont. -------------------------------------------------- | |2003|2004|2005|2006| -------------------------------------------------- |Immediate custody |17 |19 |15 |18 | -------------------------------------------------- |Suspended custody |13 |21 |11 |11 | -------------------------------------------------- |Supervision in the Community|55 |61 |49 |40 | -------------------------------------------------- |Fine |35 |32 |31 |26 | -------------------------------------------------- |Conditional discharge |37 |38 |22 |21 | -------------------------------------------------- |Youth Conference Order |- |4 |12 |35 | -------------------------------------------------- |Other |7 |6 |6 |1 | -------------------------------------------------- |Total |164 |181 |146 |152 | -------------------------------------------------- 1. Source: NIO Statistics and Research Branch. Table 6 Disposals given to those aged 10 to 17 years convicted of robbery offences 1998-20061 ------------------------------------------------------- | |1998|1999|2000|2001|2002| ------------------------------------------------------- |Immediate custody |7 |8 |6 |8 |10 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Suspended custody |1 |3 |2 |0 |3 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Supervision in the Community|2 |6 |10 |7 |16 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Fine |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Conditional discharge |0 |1 |2 |0 |2 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Youth Conference Order |- |- | |- |- | ------------------------------------------------------- |Other |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Total |10 |18 |20 |16 |31 | ------------------------------------------------------- Table 6 cont. -------------------------------------------------- | |2003|2004|2005|2006| -------------------------------------------------- |Immediate custody |11 |7 |6 |5 | -------------------------------------------------- |Suspended custody |2 |1 |1 |0 | -------------------------------------------------- |Supervision in the Community|7 |8 |0 |4 | -------------------------------------------------- |Fine |0 |0 |0 |0 | -------------------------------------------------- |Conditional discharge |1 |1 |1 |0 | -------------------------------------------------- |Youth Conference Order |- |0 |0 |2 | -------------------------------------------------- |Other |0 |0 |0 |0 | -------------------------------------------------- |Total |21 |17 |8 |11 | -------------------------------------------------- 1. Source: NIO Statistics and Research Branch. Table 7 Disposals given to those aged 10 to 17 years convicted of all violent offences (sexual offences, violence against the person offences and robbery offences) 1998-20061 ------------------------------------------------------- | |1998|1999|2000|2001|2002| ------------------------------------------------------- |Immediate custody |28 |38 |24 |20 |29 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Suspended custody |11 |12 |9 |6 |13 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Supervision in the Community|68 |59 |72 |52 |70 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Fine |27 |31 |37 |29 |28 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Conditional discharge |42 |27 |36 |36 |41 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Youth Conference Order |- |- |- |- |- | ------------------------------------------------------- |Other |8 |10 |11 |7 |7 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Total |184 |177 |189 |150 |188 | ------------------------------------------------------- Table 7 cont. -------------------------------------------------- | |2003|2004|2005|2006| -------------------------------------------------- |Immediate custody |28 |29 |23 |25 | -------------------------------------------------- |Suspended custody |15 |25 |12 |12 | -------------------------------------------------- |Supervision in the Community|69 |76 |54 |47 | -------------------------------------------------- |Fine |35 |32 |31 |26 | -------------------------------------------------- |Conditional discharge |39 |39 |24 |23 | -------------------------------------------------- |Youth Conference Order |- |4 |12 |37 | -------------------------------------------------- |Other |7 |6 |7 |1 | -------------------------------------------------- |Total |193 |211 |163 |171 | -------------------------------------------------- 1. Source: NIO Statistics and Research Branch. Table 8 Number aged 10 to 17 years prosecuted and convicted for indictable non-violent crimes1 1998-20062 ----------------------------------------- | |Number prosecuted|Number convicted| ----------------------------------------- |1998|1,112 |927 | ----------------------------------------- |1999|918 |760 | ----------------------------------------- |2000|1,078 |859 | ----------------------------------------- |2001|1,011 |784 | ----------------------------------------- |2002|942 |740 | ----------------------------------------- |2003|935 |714 | ----------------------------------------- |2004|922 |735 | ----------------------------------------- |2005|896 |716 | ----------------------------------------- |2006|825 |614 | ----------------------------------------- 1. Includes the following indictable offence classes: burglary, theft, fraud and forgery, criminal damage, offences against the state, drugs and other offences. 2. Source: NIO Statistics and Research Branch. Table 9 Disposals given to those convicted aged 10 to 17 years for indictable non-violent crimes1 1998-20062 ------------------------------------------------------- | |1998|1999|2000|2001|2002| ------------------------------------------------------- |Immediate custody |190 |112 |127 |101 |86 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Suspended custody |47 |40 |41 |26 |19 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Supervision in the Community|356 |278 |345 |306 |316 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Fine |112 |101 |104 |98 |91 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Conditional discharge |203 |202 |226 |234 |215 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Youth Conference Order |- |- |- |- |- | ------------------------------------------------------- |Other |19 |27 |16 |19 |13 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Total |927 |760 |859 |784 |740 | ------------------------------------------------------- Table 9 cont. -------------------------------------------------- | |2003|2004|2005|2006| -------------------------------------------------- |Immediate custody |79 |92 |90 |49 | -------------------------------------------------- |Suspended custody |37 |44 |42 |12 | -------------------------------------------------- |Supervision in the Community|311 |320 |279 |226 | -------------------------------------------------- |Fine |74 |74 |69 |30 | -------------------------------------------------- |Conditional discharge |207 |184 |174 |99 | -------------------------------------------------- |Youth Conference Order |- |14 |51 |194 | -------------------------------------------------- |Other |6 |7 |11 |4 | -------------------------------------------------- |Total |714 |735 |716 |614 | -------------------------------------------------- 1. Includes the following indictable offence classes: burglary, theft, fraud and forgery, criminal damage, offences against the state, drugs and other offences. 2. Source: NIO Statistics and Research Branch. Table 10 Number aged 10 to 17 years prosecuted and convicted for non-indictable crimes 1998-20061 ----------------------------------------- | |Number prosecuted|Number convicted| ----------------------------------------- |1998|871 |737 | ----------------------------------------- |1999|758 |649 | ----------------------------------------- |2000|773 |673 | ----------------------------------------- |2001|813 |685 | ----------------------------------------- |2002|847 |739 | ----------------------------------------- |2003|825 |681 | ----------------------------------------- |2004|746 |642 | ----------------------------------------- |2005|669 |576 | ----------------------------------------- |2006|579 |488 | ----------------------------------------- 1. Source: NIO Statistics and Research Branch. Table 11 Disposals given to those convicted aged 10 to 17 years for non-indictable crimes 1998-20061 ------------------------------------------------------- | |1998|1999|2000|2001|2002| ------------------------------------------------------- |Immediate custody |41 |21 |35 |26 |36 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Suspended custody |14 |15 |5 |5 |16 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Supervision in the Community|118 |90 |93 |115 |131 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Fine |353 |352 |323 |302 |320 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Conditional discharge |116 |105 |121 |154 |138 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Youth Conference Order |- |- |- |- |- | ------------------------------------------------------- |Other |95 |66 |96 |83 |98 | ------------------------------------------------------- |Total |737 |649 |673 |685 |739 | ------------------------------------------------------- Table 11 cont. -------------------------------------------------- | |2003|2004|2005|2006| -------------------------------------------------- |Immediate custody |32 |31 |31 |15 | -------------------------------------------------- |Suspended custody |12 |16 |18 |8 | -------------------------------------------------- |Supervision in the Community|110 |101 |110 |97 | -------------------------------------------------- |Fine |282 |295 |248 |187 | -------------------------------------------------- |Conditional discharge |121 |107 |101 |84 | -------------------------------------------------- |Youth Conference Order |- |3 |9 |58 | -------------------------------------------------- |Other |124 |89 |59 |39 | -------------------------------------------------- |Total |681 |642 |576 |488 | -------------------------------------------------- 1. Source: NIO Statistics and Research Branch.