Written question asked by James Clappison (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 11 March 2002. It was answered by Nicholas Brown (Labour) on Monday, 11 March 2002 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many prosecutions have been brought against perpetrators of physical assault on Benefits Agency and Employment Service staff in each year since 1997; and how many resulted in successful prosecutions. - Inc table. (Holding answer 5 February 2002).

Answer: Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many prosecutions have been brought against perpetrators of physical assault on Benefits Agency and Employment Service staff in each year since 1997; and how many resulted in successful prosecutions. [32649] Mr. Nicholas Brown: [holding answer 5 February 2002]: The majority of prosecutions in cases of physical assault on Benefits Agency and Employment Service staff are criminal prosecutions brought by the police. The Department does not keep statistics on such cases. In addition, both the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service refer some cases to the Department's solicitor for consideration of proceedings where the police have decided not to prosecute. The Benefits Agency does not keep statistics on such cases. The Employment Service has referred 13 such cases since 1 April 1996, four of which have resulted in successful prosecution. A yearly breakdown of these cases is in the table. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year{1} Submitted for prosecution Successful prosecution 1996-97 4 3 1997-98 4 -- 1998-99 1 -- 1999-2000 2 -- 2000-01 1 1 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} 1 April to 31 March

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 32649; 381 c724W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Crimes of violence Convictions Prosecutions Social Security Benefits Agency Employment Service
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk