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Scottish Office;Scottish Prison Service

Answer

Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the Scottish prison population by type of offence numerically and in percentage terms. [17696] Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The subject of this question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mrs. Ray Michie, dated 5 March 1997: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about providing information on the Scottish prison population by type of offence. Information by offence type is not currently available in relation to the average daily prison population. However, the table attached provides reception information by main offence for the year 1995. Receptions to penal establishments by main crime/offence, 1995 Scotland Number and percentage _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Crime/offence Direct receptions Fine default receptions Number Percentage Number Percentage Total crime and offences 11,502 100 7,509 100 Total crimes: sub total 8,145 71 3,261 43 Non-sexual crimes of 1,271 11 145 2 violence: sub total Homicide 75 1 4 {1}-- Serious assault and 747 6 77 1 attempted murder Handling offensive weapons 150 1 41 1 Robbery 265 2 16 {1}-- Other 34 {1}-- 7 {1}-- Crimes of indecency: sub 224 2 148 2 total Sexual assault 64 1 3 {1}-- Lewd and ibidinous practices 131 1 2 {1}-- Other 29 {1}-- 143 2 Crimes of dishonesty: sub 5,320 46 2,188 29 total Housebreaking 1,634 14 457 6 Theft by opening lockfast 438 4 161 2 places Theft of a motor-vehicle 514 4 141 2 Other theft 2,039 18 1,049 14 Fraud 174 2 133 2 Other 521 5 247 3 Fire-raising, vandalism etc: 136 1 207 3 sub total Fire-raising 31 {1}-- 3 {1}-- Vandalism etc. 105 1 204 3 Other crimes: sub total 1,194 10 573 8 Crimes against public 492 4 276 4 justice Drugs related crimes 685 6 284 4 Other 17 {1}-- 13 {1}-- Total offences: sub total 3,357 29 4,248 57 Miscellaneous offences: sub 2,369 21 2,649 35 total Petty assault 672 6 417 6 Breach of the peace 1,606 14 2,008 27 Drunkenness 11 {1}-- 58 1 Other 80 1 166 2 Motor vehicle offences: sub 988 9 1,599 21 total Dangerous and careless 61 1 64 1 driving Drunk driving 185 2 261 3 Speeding 5 {1}-- 24 {1}-- Unlawful use of vehicle 725 6 1,167 16 Vehicle defect offences 2 {1}-- 15 {1}-- Other 10 {1}-- 68 1 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Denotes less than 0.5 per cent.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

17696; 291 c648-50W

Session

1996-97

Subjects

Prisons Population Scotland

Contains statistics

Yes