Criminal justice statistics: March 2014
Source: data.gov.uk (2018-05-25)

Criminal Justice Statistics. The reports presents the main trends on the latest 12 months of activity in the criminal justice system (CJS) for England and Wales. For each process a brief description of the function is included with an explanation of some of the main procedures involved.

/ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Criminal Justice Statistics  
Quarterly Update to March 2014 
 
England and Wales 
 
Ministry of Justice  
Statistics bulletin 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Published 14 August 2014 
 

Contents 
 
 
Contents...................................................................................................................... 1 
 
Introduction ................................................................................................................. 2 
 
Key Findings ............................................................................................................... 4 
 
 
Chapters: 
 
1. Overview .............................................................................................................. 5 
 
2. Out of Court Disposals......................................................................................... 7 
 
3. Court Proceedings and Remand.......................................................................... 9 
 
4. Offenders Found Guilty...................................................................................... 12 
 
5. Sentencing ......................................................................................................... 14 
 
6. Offending Histories............................................................................................. 16 
 
 
Flows through the Criminal Justice System, 12 months ending March 2014............ 19 
 
Overview Tables ....................................................................................................... 20 
 
Revisions Policy........................................................................................................ 25 
 
Explanatory Notes..................................................................................................... 26 
Symbols and conventions ...................................................................................... 26 
Guidance on tables and supplementary volumes .................................................. 26 
Contacts................................................................................................................. 26 
 

 
 
Introduction 
 
This report presents the key statistics on activity in the Criminal Justice System (CJS) 
for England and Wales. It provides information for the latest twelve months (April 
2013 to March 2014) with accompanying commentary, analysis and presentation of 
longer term trends. The information in this publication for the first quarter of 2014 in 
relation to court proceedings and outcomes is provisional.  
 
The data provides users with information about proven offending and its outcomes in 
England and Wales. The contents of this bulletin will be of interest to government 
policy makers in the development of policy and their subsequent monitoring and 
evaluation. Others will be interested in the way different crimes are dealt with in the 
CJS. Where appropriate, comparisons are made with different sources covering 
activity in the CJS – in particular, numbers of crimes recorded by the police, often the 
starting point for crimes dealt with by other CJS agencies1. 
 
In this publication, criminal offences are divided into three main offence groups: 
 
 
Indictable proceedings cover the more serious offences such as violent and 
sexual offences and robbery. Initial proceedings are heard at magistrates’ courts 
but they then may be passed on to the Crown Court, either for sentencing or for a 
full trial with a judge and jury. This group includes both ‘indictable only’ offences, 
which can only be tried on indictment in the Crown Court by a judge and jury, and 
‘triable-either-way’ offences which are triable either summarily in a magistrate’s 
court or on indictment in the Crown Court; 
 
 
Summary proceedings, which cover less serious offences, are almost always 
handled entirely in the magistrates’ courts when dealt with in court, with the 
majority completed at the first hearing. They are split into two categories: 
 
Summary non-motoring proceedings, such as TV license evasion and less 
serious criminal damage; and 
 
Summary motoring proceedings, such as speeding and driving whilst 
disqualified. 
 
A technical document titled “A Guide to Criminal Justice Statistics” is available 
alongside this bulletin, which provides users with detailed information on the 
concepts and methods used in compiling this bulletin, including the quality of the 
data, along with guidance on statistical revisions and forthcoming changes. A copy of 
the technical document can be found at: 
 
www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly  
 
 
Changes to data presentation within the report 
 
Tables on an all offence basis previously included in a separate Offences Chapter 
(last shown in Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly Update to September 2013) have 
been moved to the overview, out of court disposals and convictions sections where 
relevant (as was the case with Criminal Justice Statistics 2013 publication). 
                                                
1 Findings from the Crime Survey for England and Wales and recorded crime data are published 
together in statistical bulletins by the Office for National Statistics. 
 
2

 
 
 
 
Potential data issue regarding triable-either-way cases in the 
magistrates’ court: 
 
Investigations are under way due to an apparent difference between numbers of 
triable-either-way cases in 2013 and 2014 shown in this publication and in Table 3.2a 
of Court Statistics (quarterly)2. Users of these statistics should be aware that figures 
in this bulletin are showing a slight decline in the last 12 months whereas figures in 
Court Statistics Quarterly are showing a slight upward trend. 
 
Interpretation 
 
This publication presents information for the latest 12 month period (the twelve 
months ending March 2014) alongside the same rolling 12 month periods 
ending March for the previous ten years. The comparison of 12 rolling month 
periods has the advantage over reporting on shorter timeframes – for example, 
covering only the latest quarter – of avoiding misinterpretation of short-term 
fluctuations caused by seasonality (for example, reduced court volumes every 
December when many of the courts are closed over the Christmas period), and 
enables the presentation of longer-term trends across comparable reporting 
periods. 
 
In this publication: 
 
the “latest year” refers to the 12 months ending March 2014; 
 
the “previous year” refers to the 12 months ending March 2013; and 
 
any other reference period will be referred to explicitly.
 
 
Further guidance on the symbols and conventions used in the bulletin is provided in 
the ‘Explanatory notes’ section. 
 
Future Developments  
We are planning to make changes to the offending history tables in forthcoming 
publications, for example we are considering removing first time entrants by police 
force area tables and introducing new tables to ensure all offences are covered, not 
just indictable offences. If you have any feedback on the current offending history 
tables or suggestions for changes you would like to see in the future, your feedback 
would be greatly appreciated. 
 
If you have any feedback, questions or requests for further information about 
this statistical bulletin, please direct them to the appropriate contact given at 
the end of this report. 
 
                                                
2 www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly  
 
3

 
 
Key Findings 
 
 
 
Total number of individuals (which includes people and companies) dealt with 
formally by the CJS in England and Wales has been declining since 2007. It 
is now at a record low level (period 1970 onwards), with 1.73 million 
individuals dealt with in the latest 12 month period. 
 
 
Use of out of court disposals has decreased in the last year by 13%, down to 
318,500 in the latest 12 month period. This continues the pattern of decline 
(52% decrease since year ending March 2008 peak). 
 
 
In the latest 12 month period 1.41 million defendants were proceeded against, 
a 4% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the last 10 years the 
number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ court has declined 
almost year on year. 
 
 
Conviction ratio has remained relatively steady since year ending March 2009 
(following on from an increase in the 5 years preceding this). In the latest 12 
month period it was 82%. 
 
 
Custody rate for indictable offences (27%) is the highest in the decade and 
has increased in each of the last three years. 
 
 
Average custodial sentence length (ACSL) has increased over the last 
decade, particularly in the last year – up to 15.5 months in the latest 12 month 
period. 
 
 
Number and proportion of convicted offenders who have long criminal 
histories has increased over the last 10 years, whereas the number of new 
entrants to the criminal justice system has fallen. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4

 
 
1. Overview 
 
Once a suspect has been identified by the police, charged and arrested, the police 
work with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in deciding the most appropriate 
course of action in each case. The decision can be made to not take the offender to 
court, through a number of available “out-of-court disposals”, or to proceed against 
the defendant at a magistrates’ court. 
 
The total number of individuals, which includes people and companies, who have 
been dealt with formally by the CJS in England and Wales, in either of these ways, 
has been declining since the 12 months ending March 2007, with 1.73 million 
individuals dealt with in the latest 12 month period.  
 
Figure 1.1: Individuals3 dealt with formally by the CJS, 12 months ending 
March 2004 to March 2014 
0
250
500
750
1,000
1,250
1,500
1,750
2,000
2,250
2,500
2,750
3,000
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
12 months ending March
Total individuals dealt with (thousands)
Issued out of court disposal
Proceeded against at magistrates' courts
 
 
The total number of individuals formally dealt with by the CJS in England and Wales 
is generally consistent with total crime and recorded crime trends. In the year ending 
March 2014 however, despite a reduction in total crime, there was no overall change 
in recorded crime, yet there was a reduction in individuals formally dealt with by the 
CJS in England and Wales.  
 
Total crime, as measured by surveys of the general population, has fallen since 
2002/03.  Latest figures in the Crime in England and Wales, year ending March 2014 
publication3 show there were an estimated 7.3 million incidents of crime against 
households and resident adults (aged 16 and over). This represents a 14% decrease 
compared with the previous year’s survey and is the lowest estimate since the Crime 
survey began in 1981. 
 
                                                
3 Includes people and companies. Note also that a single individual can be counted more than once in a 
given year if they are dealt with by the Criminal Justice System on more than one separate occasion. 
 
5

 
 
Recorded crime in England and Wales reduced year on year between 2002/03 and 
2012/13. Recently published police recorded crime figures for 2013/144 however, 
showed no overall change from the previous year, with 3.7 million offences recorded 
in the year ending March 2014.  
 
The number of individuals dealt with formally by the CJS for the first time has also 
fallen since the 12 months ending March 2007 – with 166,000 ‘first time entrants’ to 
the CJS in 12 months ending March 2014, a decline of 50% since 2007. The 
reduction has been much sharper for juveniles (80% over the same period), reflecting 
a decreasing number of juvenile offenders reprimanded, issued with a warning or 
given a youth caution. However, per head of population, the rate of juvenile first time 
entrants remains higher than for adults. 
 
 
                                                
4 www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/period-ending-march-2014/stb-crime-stats.html  
 
6

 
 
2. Out of Court Disposals  
 
Until the introduction of Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) in 2004 and formal 
warnings for possession of cannabis in 20055, the only out of court disposal available 
to police was a caution. Since the 12 months ending March 2004, the use of out of 
court disposals increased rapidly and peaked in the 12 months ending March 2008, 
before decreasing year on year – 318,500 individuals were issued with an out of 
court disposal in the latest period. The increase to the 12 months ending March 2008 
coincided with the introduction in 2001 of a target to increase offences brought to 
justice. The decrease post March 2008 coincided with the replacement of the target 
in April 2008, with one placing more emphasis on bringing serious crimes to justice. 
The latter target was subsequently removed in May 2010. 
 
Figure 2.1: Out of court disposals issued, by disposal, 12 months ending 
March 2004 to March 2014 
 
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
12 months ending March
Persons issued an out of court disposal (thousands)
Cannabis warnings
Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs)
Cautions for summary non-motoring offences
Cautions for indictable offences
 
 
 
The use of out of court disposals has decreased in the last year by 13%.This 
continues the decline in the use of out of court disposals which have seen a 52% 
decrease since the year ending March 2008 peak. 
 
Each type of out of court disposal showed a decrease when compared with the 
previous year. The biggest decline was in the use of Penalty Notice for Disorder 
(PNDs) which decreased by 23% (to 78,600 from 101,500) following the cancellation 
of the use of PNDs for under 18 year olds from 8 April 2013. Total cautions 
decreased by 10% (to 175,900 from 195,000) and cannabis warnings 8% (to 64,000 
from 69,200) over the same period. 
 
In the 12 months ending March 2014, cautions for indictable offences (including 
triable either way offences) decreased by 11%, to 90,500, from 102,100 in the 
previous year. There were just over 600 cautions for indictable only offences 
                                                
5 The number of cannabis warnings issued in the 12 months ending March 2006 is not available. 
 
7

 
 
(excluding triable either way) in the 12 months ending March 2014, a decline of 18% 
compared to the previous year. This follows guidance issued by the Ministry of 
Justice on 14 November 2013, which stated that the use of adult simple cautions, for 
indictable only offences should be stopped, except in exceptional circumstances. In 
the 4 month period since the guidance (December 2013 to March 2014) just over 100 
adult cautions for indictable only offences have been issued. Legislation in the 
forthcoming Criminal Justice and Courts Bill will put these changes to adult simple 
cautions on a statutory footing. 
 
The overall cautioning rate (proportion of offenders who were either cautioned or 
convicted that were given a caution) for the latest 12 months was 20%, which has 
declined from a peak of 31% in year ending March 2007.  This coincided with the 
replacement in April 2008 of a target to increase offences brought to justice with 
more emphasis targeted on serious crime. 
 
In year ending March 2014, 50% of PNDs (with known outcome: i.e. paid in full or not 
paid in full excluding unknowns) were paid in full - a decrease of twelve percentage 
points compared with the year ending March 2013 and a low for the 10 year period. 
 
 
 
8

 
 
3. Court Proceedings and Remand  
 
Virtually all criminal cases proceeding to court in England and Wales start in a 
magistrates’ court. Since the 12 months ending March 2004, the number of 
defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ court has declined almost year on year 
– down to 1.41 million defendants in the latest period – driven chiefly by decreases in 
summary motoring offences brought before magistrates. The biggest decreases have 
been for vehicle insurance offences, driving licence related offences and driving after 
consuming alcohol or taking drugs offences. 
 
Prosecutions decreased by 4% in the year ending March 2014 compared with the 
previous year, with decreases seen in all three main offence groups (indictable, 
summary motoring and summary non-motoring). The largest decline was seen for 
summary non-motoring offences which showed a 7% decrease compared with the 
previous 12 month period. Meanwhile indictable offences decreased by less than 1% 
(despite there being a 2% increase for those aged 18 and over) and summary 
motoring offences decreased by 2%. 
 
Figure 3.1: Defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts, by offence 
group6, 12 months ending March 2004 to March 2014 
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1,000
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
12 months ending March
Defendants proceeded against (thousands)
Summary motoring
Summary non-motoring
Indictable
 
 
Prosecutions for sexual offences, violence against the person offences, fraud 
offences and public order offences have all increased in line with recorded crime 
figures7.  
 
Prosecutions for sexual offences increased by 21% in the latest period compared 
with the 12 months ending March 2013 (this compares to a 20% increase in recorded 
crime). The increase in recorded crime and prosecutions for sexual offences is likely 
to be partly due to the Operation Yewtree investigation, connected to the Jimmy 
Savile inquiry. This investigation has led to a ‘Yewtree effect’ whereby a greater 
number of victims have come forward to report sexual offences to the police. 
                                                
6 Regarding the 2013/14 figures for indictable offences please see the introduction which discusses a 
potential data issue 
7 www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/period-ending-march-2014/stb-crime-stats.html  
 
9

 
 
Improved compliance with the recording standards for sexual offences in some police 
forces may also be a factor. 
 
Prosecutions for fraud offences increased by 9% in the latest period compared with 
the 12 months ending March 2013, public order offences by 8% and violence against 
the person offences by 6%. There has also been a 4% increase in prosecutions for 
shoplifting offences.  
 
Around 6% of all defendants proceeded against are passed on to the Crown Court 
for trial. Since the 12 months ending March 2011 the volume of defendants tried at 
the Crown Court has declined, in line with the decline in prosecutions – with 82,600 
defendants tried at the Crown Court in the latest year, compared with 106,300 in the 
12 months ending March 2011. On 28th May 2013, committal hearings were 
abolished nationally as part of wider measures to speed up justice and improve 
efficiencies in the justice system. As a result cases are now being sent straight to the 
Crown Court as soon as it is clear the matter is serious enough, rather than having to 
await a committal hearing.  
 
Police remands are the decisions made by a police officer on whether to detain or 
bail a defendant pending their first appearance in court or send a notice summoning 
them to appear in court. In the latest year, there were 1.47 million defendants 
directed by the police to appear at magistrates’ courts (including those who failed to 
appear). The proportion of defendants remanded in custody by the police increased 
from 11% in the 12 months ending March 2013 to 12% in the latest year. Meanwhile 
the proportion of those granted bail by the police and those directed to appear via 
summonses remained stable at 29% and 60% respectively.  
 
Court remands are the court’s decision on whether a defendant charged with a 
criminal offence should be held in custody or released on bail during the period up to 
and including the trial, or while awaiting sentence. In the latest year, bail was granted 
to 22% of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts whilst 4% were 
remanded in custody and the remaining 74% had their case concluded at the 
magistrates’ courts without being remanded.  
 
Defendants are more likely to be remanded in custody for indictable offences than 
summary offences – as a result, the proportion of defendants remanded in custody at 
the Crown Court is higher than at magistrates’ courts. In the latest year, the 
proportion of defendants tried at the Crown Court who were remanded in custody 
was 36% (up from 34% in the previous 12 month period) and the proportion 
remanded on bail was 47% (down from 48% in the previous 12 month period). Of 
those remanded in custody at the Crown Court, 73% were convicted and sentenced 
to immediate custody (a decrease from 74% in the previous year). 
 
Failure To Appear (FTA) warrants are issued by courts when defendants do not 
attend court on a specified date, having either been summonsed or granted bail at an 
earlier stage. In the latest year, police forces in England and Wales received a total 
of 70,100 FTA warrants from the courts, of which 86% were executed. 
 
There were a total of 16,700 FTA warrants outstanding at the end of March 2014, a 
decrease of 2% compared with the position at the end of March 2013. The number of 
outstanding FTA Warrants fell year-on-year between the year ending 31st March 
2008 and the year ending 31st March 2012, prior to a small increase (1%) from the 
year ending 31st March 2012 to the year ending 31st March 2013. 
 
 
10

 
 
The number of outstanding Category A FTA warrants (which relate to the most 
serious offences) has increased by less than 1% compared to the previous year. The 
number of outstanding Category B and C FTA warrants fell by 2% and 4% 
respectively. 
 
Figure 3.2: Number of Failure to Appear (FTA) Warrants outstanding in England 
and Wales, by category of warrant, 12 months ending March 2010 to March 
2014 
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
12 months ending March
Warrants outstanding
Category A
Category B
Category C
 
 
 
 
11

 
 
4. Offenders Found Guilty  
 
Trends in the number of offenders convicted – that is, defendants who plead or are 
found guilty – and sentenced at all courts are driven by two factors, namely the 
number of individuals dealt with through the courts (the trend in prosecutions) and 
the proportion of those individuals who are found guilty. Conviction ratios are 
calculated as the number of convictions as a proportion of the number of 
proceedings. This gives a measure of the relative number of defendants who are 
found guilty within a given year for a certain offence, when compared with the 
number who are prosecuted that year for the same offence. 
 
Since the 12 months ending March 2004, convictions have declined almost year on 
year, in line with declining numbers of individuals proceeded against. The decline in 
convictions has not been as steep as for proceedings. As a result, the conviction ratio 
has increased from 75% in the 12 months ending March 2004 to 83% in the 12 
months ending March 2009, and has since remained steady, fluctuating between 
82% and 83%. In the latest year it was 82%. The complex nature of the CJS means 
there are a number of possible factors contributing to this change – for example, 
changes in guilty plea rates, the mix of cases handled in and out of court, impacts of 
operational changes, and so on – and it is difficult to separately identify the impacts 
of different factors. 
 
Figure 4.1: Prosecutions at magistrates’ courts and convictions at all courts, 
with conviction ratio, 12 months ending March 2004 to March 2014 
0
400
800
1,200
1,600
2,000
2,400
2,800
3,200
3,600
4,000
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
12 months ending March
Num ber of defendants
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Conviction ratio (% )
Conviction ratio (%)
Proceeded against
Found guilty
 
 
Sexual offence convictions increased by 5% in the latest year compared with the 
previous year, an increase was also seen with recorded crime figures8 (20% 
increase). Sexual offence prosecutions however increased by 21% over the same 
                                                
8 www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/period-ending-march-2014/stb-crime-stats.html   
 
12

 
 
period, which led to the conviction ratio for sexual offences decreasing from 
61% in the 12 months ending March 2013 to 53% in the latest period. The fall in 
conviction ratio can be explained by considering that prosecutions include cases 
which may not be finished, i.e. those waiting to go to trial. Sexual offence cases take 
a longer time to go through the court system than the majority of other offence 
groups and there are a higher number of incomplete cases. Of those tried at all 
courts for sexual offences in the latest 12 month period, 69% were convicted – this 
figure has remained stable for the last 3 years. 
 
 
13

 
 
5. Sentencing 
 
In the 12 months ending March 2014, there were 1.16 million offenders sentenced 
following a criminal conviction, 4% fewer compared to 12 months ending March 
2013.  
 
Fines are the most common sentence given to offenders at all courts (accounting for 
68% of offenders sentenced in the latest year), due mainly to the large number of 
fines issued for summary offences at the magistrates’ court. Offenders sentenced for 
summary offences accounted for 75% of all sentences issued in the latest year. The 
majority of summary offences (99%) were dealt with entirely in the magistrates’ 
courts, of which 85% were issued fines. 
 
A different distribution of sentences is observed for indictable offences. In the latest 
year, 27% of offenders sentenced for indictable offences were sentenced to 
immediate custody (that is, to prison or other form of secure detention), 22% to 
community sentences, 19% to a fine, and 12% to a Suspended Sentence Order 
(SSO). Over a quarter of offenders sentenced for indictable offences were sentenced 
at the Crown Court – of these, 57% received an immediate custodial sentence, 
reflecting the fact that the most serious offences are likely to be tried on indictment in 
the Crown Court by a judge and jury. 
 
Overall, the way in which offenders have been sentenced has remained broadly 
consistent over the last decade. However the use of SSOs rose steadily between the 
12 months ending March 2006 and March 2011 – as a result of the Criminal Justice 
Act 2003, which made SSOs more readily available. More recently the Legal Aid 
Sentencing and Punishment Offenders (LASPO) Act 2012 made further changes to 
the availability of SSOs, resulting in a 12% increase in SSOs for indictable offences 
between the 12 months ending March 2013 and March 2014. The proportion of 
offenders given community sentences remained broadly stable until the 12 months 
ending March 2011, before decreasing in recent years.  
 
Figure 5.1: Sentencing outcomes (percentages of all offenders sentenced) at 
all courts, 12 months ending March 2004, March 2009 and March 2014 
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
2004
2009
2014
12 months ending March
Percentage of offenders sentenced
Fine 
Community sentence
Discharge (absolute or
conditional)
Immediate custody 
Suspended sentence
Otherwise dealt with
 
 
14

 
 
 
The number of persons given a custodial sentence has also fallen over the last two 
years by 13%, reflecting a decrease in the number of offenders being sentenced, 
down 11% over the same period. 
 
Between the 12 months ending March 2007 and March 2012, the immediate custody 
rate (the proportion of all persons sentenced receiving immediate custody) increased 
up from 6.7% to 8.2%. The custody rate fell slightly to 7.9% in the 12 months to 
March 2013, before rising to 8.0% in the most recent year. The custody rate for 
indictable offences in the 12 months to March 2014 was 27%, the highest in the 
decade and has increased in each of the last three years. 
 
The average custodial sentence length (ACSL), which excludes life and 
indeterminate sentences, has increased over the last decade, particularly in the last 
year – up to 15.5 months in 12 months ending March 2014, compared with 14.8 
months in the previous 12 month period and 12.5 months in the 12 months ending 
March 2004. Several factors have contributed to this increase: 
 
 
A change in the case-mix of people getting custodial sentences. In the 12 
months ending March 2004 indictable offences, (which have a higher ACSL 
compared to summary offences) accounted for 75% of all immediate custodial 
sentences, compared to 84% in the 12 months ending March 2014. 
 
 
The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act (CJIA) in 2008 restricted the use of 
indeterminate sentences for Public Protection (IPPs). This coincided with an 
increase in determinate sentences of 10 years or more. 
 
 
The LASPO Act, which was passed on 3rd December 2012, abolished IPPs 
and replaced them with new Extended Determinate Sentences (EDS). 
Furthermore it legislated that adult offenders will receive mandatory life 
sentences for a second serious sexual or violent offence.  
 
 
Between 12 months ending March 2004 and March 2014 there has been a 
steady decrease in the proportion of offenders sentenced to short sentences 
of more than three and up to six months (from 28% to 19%); while there has 
been an increase in the proportion of offenders sentenced to more than 18 
months and up to three years (from 10% to 13%).  
 
 
The proportion of determinate sentences of five years or longer (but less than 
life) has been increasing steadily since 12 months ending March 2011, with 
these accounting for 5% of all custodial sentences in 12 months ending 2014 
compared with 3% of all custodial sentences in the same period 2011. 
 
Due to current recording issues, an estimate has had to be made, using prison 
population data, of the number of persons sentenced to immediate custody since 3rd 
December 2012 who were given an EDS. The best current estimate is that 900 
offenders were sentenced to an EDS between 3rd December 2012 and 31st March 
2014, with an ACSL of 8.1 years. 
 
Offenders sentenced for sexual offences have a consistently higher ASCL – 58.7 
months in the 12 months ending March 2014, and this has increased in each of the 
last ten 12 month periods. The custody rate has also increased in each of the last 
three 12 month periods and was 60% in the 12 months ending March 2014. Only 
robbery has a higher custody rate (64%). 
 
15

 
 
6. Offending Histories  
 
The number of new entrants to the criminal justice system has continued to fall since 
its peak in the 12 months ending March 2007. Whilst the number and proportion of 
convicted offenders who have long criminal records has generally been increasing 
over the last 10 years. The reduction seen in the number of first time entrants has 
been much sharper for juveniles than for adults. 
 
Figure 6.1: Change in number of juvenile and adult first time entrants to the 
criminal justice system, 12 months ending March 2004 (index=100) to 12 
months ending March 2014 
 
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
12 months ending March
Number of first time entrants ‐ indexed (index = 2004)
Juveniles
Adults
 
 
In the 12 months ending March 2014, just under 105,000 offenders convicted of an 
indictable offence had 15 or more previous convictions or cautions (long criminal 
records) at the time. This equates to 36% of all convicted offenders in the year and is 
up from 23% in the 12 months ending March 2004 (77,200 offenders).  
 
The majority of these prolific offenders already have in excess of 15 previous 
offences on their record, whereas the group progressing from their 15th to their 16th 
conviction or caution has been falling since 2009. This suggests that the increasing 
numbers of convictions for those with long criminal records are being driven by 
groups of offenders who already have in excess of 15 previous sanctions (on 
average around 31 previous sanctions) and not merely by those progressing from 
their 15th to their 16th offence.  
 
16

 
 
Figure 6.2 Percentage of offenders convicted of indictable offences, by number 
of previous convictions or cautions, 12 months ending March 2004 to 12 
months ending March 2014 
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
12 months ending March
P e r ce n t a g e  o f o ffe n d e r s co n v ict e d  (% )
0 previous convictions/cautions
1‐2 previous convictions/cautions
3‐6 previous convictions/cautions
7‐10 previous convictions/cautions
11‐14 previous convictions/cautions
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
 
 
In the 12 months ending March 2014, 60% of those with 15 or more previous 
cautions and convictions were for offences related to theft – by comparison, only 
23% of those with no previous convictions or cautions were convicted for theft 
offences. In contrast, sexual offences accounted for 8% of convictions for those 
offenders with no previous history but less than 1% of convictions for those offenders 
with 15 or more previous convictions or cautions. As might be expected, given that 
sentencing decisions will typically take into account previous offending history, the 
proportion of offenders receiving immediate custody for an indictable offence is 
higher for those groups of offenders with longer criminal histories. In the 12 months 
ending March 2014, 38% of adults with 15 or more previous convictions or cautions 
received a custodial sentence compared to 11% for adults with no previous history of 
offending. The equivalent figures for juveniles were 42% and 2% respectively.  
The most common disposal given in the 12 months ending March 2014, for offenders 
committing an indictable offence with no previous criminal history, was a caution, with 
this accounting for 73% of juveniles in this group and 58% of adults. 
 
17

 
 
 
Figure 6.3 Flow chart showing number of adult offenders cautioned and 
convicted of indictable offences in England and Wales in 12 months ending 
March 2014, by previous criminal history and type of disposal received 
Other sentence 62,967 
(58.3% of 15+ previous 
group)
Adult offenders sentenced or cautioned 
for indictable offences
344,761
No previous conviction 
/cautions 
58,993
1 ‐ 14 previous 
convictions / cautions 
177,825
15+  previous 
convictions/cautions 
107,943
Immediate custody 6,748 
(11.4% of no previous 
group)
Other sentence  18,059 
(30.6% of no previous 
group)
Caution 34,186 (57.9% of 
no previous group)
Immediate custody 33,424 
(18.8% of 1‐14 previous 
group)
Other sentence 106,669 
(60.0% of 1‐14 previous 
group)
Caution 37,732 (21.2% of 
1‐14 previous group)
Immediate custody 
41,029 (38.0% of 15+ 
previous group)
Caution 3,947 (3.7% of 15+ 
previous group)
 
 
Figure 6.4 Flow chart showing number of juvenile offenders cautioned and 
convicted of indictable offences in England and Wales in 12 months ending 
March 2014, by previous criminal history and type of disposal received 
 
 
Juvenile offenders sentenced or cautioned 
for indictable offences
36,210
No previous conviction / 
caution 14,024
1 ‐ 14 previous 
convictions / cautions 
21,285
15+ previous convictions 
/ cautions 901
Immediate custody 215 
(1.5% of no previous 
group)
Other sentence 3,555 
(25.3 % of no previous 
group)
Caution 10,254 (73.1% of 
no previous group)
Immediate custody 1,987 
(9.3% of 1‐14 previous 
group)
Other sentence 13,789 
(64.8% of 1‐14 previous 
group)
Caution 5,509 (25.9% of 1‐
14 previous group)
Immediate custody 382 
(42.4% of 15+ previous 
group)
Other sentence 509 
(56.5% of 15+ previous 
group)
Caution 10 (1.1% of 15+ 
previous  group)
 
18

 
 
Flows through the Criminal Justice System, 12 
months ending March 2014 
Notifiable and non-notifiable principal offences ( * all offences)
Cautions
175,929
78,610
      
2,108,296
1,491,480 (*)
(*)
Guilty Plea
77,237
Not Guilty Plea
8,915
Fined
Custody
Other
Fined
Custody
Suspended
Other
disposal
sentence
disposal
1,739
41,773
3,057
193
6,349
1,386
306
Fined
Custody
Other 
785,124
43,773
107,167
15.5 months
(2) Defendants tried at the Crown Court in a given year may have been committed for trial by a magistrate in a previous year.
(3) Includes community sentences and suspended sentence orders.
(4) Receptions for offenders given a custodial sentence (figures include fine defaulters).
(5) Offenders starting Community Order or Suspended Sentence Order supervision by the Probation Service.
*    Total number of all offences in comparison with the total number of defendants on a principal offence basis.
Notifiable
O ffe n c e s
Recorded Crime 
(1)
3,506,699
Offences detected
Crown Prosecution Service receive papers
from the police for prosecution
CPS discontinue the case
or case unable to proceed
D e fe n d a n ts  (o ffe n c e s )
CPS proceed with charge
Cannabis warnings
Penalty Notices for Disorder
Number found guilty by magistrates
Number tried at the Crown Court
(2)
1,090,582
82,575
Number found guilty at Crown Court
Number committed for sentence at Crown Court
Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts
63,967
1,406,975
(*)
67,965
160,767
18,187
Number sentenced by magistrates
Number sentenced by the Crown Court
1,070,526
86,152
Community
Suspended
Community 
sentence
sentence
sentence
10,316
20,352
681
Community
Suspended 
sentence
107,873
26,589
Total sentenced to custody
Total sentences to be served in the community
(3)
91,895
167,197
81,617
141,705
(1) Covers all indictable offences, including triable either way, plus a few closely associated summary offences. 
Average custodial sentence length
Prison receptions
(4)
Probation starts
(5)
 
 
19

 
 
Overview Tables 
 
England and Wales
March
2010
March
2011
March
2012
March
2013
March
2014
Out of court disposals
522,133
460,279
424,620
365,776
318,506
-12.9%
Cannabis warnings
87,332
80,659
77,933
69,236
63,967
-7.6%
Penalty Notices for Disorder
(1)
161,575
138,266
122,805
101,533
78,610
-22.6%
Cautions 
273,226
241,354
223,882
195,007
175,929
-9.8%
Defendants proceeded against
1,690,980
1,644,191
1,557,046
1,459,694
1,406,975
-3.6%
Indictable offences (2)
418,910
438,540
416,911
362,975
361,792
-0.3%
Summary offences
1,272,070
1,205,651
1,140,135
1,096,719
1,045,183
-4.7%
Offenders convicted
1,400,296
1,362,308
1,296,150
1,205,470
1,158,547
-3.9%
Indictable offences
331,170
353,317
339,795
298,080
289,878
-2.8%
Summary offences
1,069,126
1,008,991
956,355
907,390
868,669
-4.3%
Prison receptions(3)
93,273
90,783
89,834
84,898
81,617
-3.9%
Probation starts(4)
167,797
166,219
158,901
144,424
141,705
-1.9%
(1) Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to offenders aged 16 and over.
(2) Indictable offences include those triable-either-way.
(3) Receptions for offenders given a custodial sentence (includes fine defaulters).
(4) Offenders starting Community Order or Suspended Sentence Order supervision by the Probation Service.
Table Q1.1 - Individuals entering the Criminal Justice System, 12 months ending March 2010 to 12 months ending March 2014
12 month ending
Percentage 
change 12 
months ending 
March 2013 to 
March 2014
 
 
 
20

 
 
 
England and Wales
March
2010
March
2011
March
2012
March
2013
March
2014
Total offenders sentenced(1)
1,398,217
1,360,683
1,294,816
1,203,518
1,156,678
-3.9%
Total persons sentenced(2)
1,389,694
1,352,847
1,288,088
1,197,126
1,150,249
-3.9%
Immediate custody (persons)
99,745
102,837
105,452
95,102
91,895
-3.4%
Suspended sentence (persons)
45,913
48,818
47,642
44,032
48,327
9.8%
Community sentence (persons)
190,817
188,235
172,144
139,167
118,870
-14.6%
Fines (all offenders)
938,500
888,596
845,789
813,072
787,056
-3.2%
Other disposals (all offenders)
123,242
132,197
123,789
112,145
110,530
-1.4%
Average custodial sentence length (months)
(3)
13.7
13.9
14.3
14.8
15.5
4.9%
change
Immediate custody (persons)
7.2
             
7.6
             
8.2
             
7.9
             
8.0
             
0.0
Suspended sentence (persons)
3.3
             
3.6
             
3.7
             
3.7
             
4.2
             
0.5
Community sentence (persons)
13.7
           
13.9
           
13.4
           
11.6
           
10.3
           
-1.3
Fines (all offenders)
67.1
           
65.3
           
65.3
           
67.6
           
68.0
           
0.5
Other disposals (all offenders)
8.8
             
9.7
             
9.6
             
9.3
             
9.6
             
0.2
(3) Average custodial sentence length excludes life and indeterminate sentences.
(4) May not sum to 100 per cent as all rates are not calculated on the same basis.
Table Q1.2 - Offenders sentenced by principal sentence, 12 months ending March 2010 to 12 months ending March 2014
Percentage point
Percentage of those sentenced(4)
(2) For sentences of immediate custody, suspended sentence and community sentence, 'persons' is the same as 'offenders', as 'others' (such as companies or 
public bodies) cannot receive these sentences.
(1) The time lag between conviction and sentencing for cases committed for sentence at Crown Court can result in small differences between total offenders 
convicted and sentenced within reporting years.
12 months ending
Percentage 
change 12 months 
ending March 
2013 to March 
2014
 
 
 
England and Wales
March
2004
March
2005
March
2006
March
2007
March
2008
March
2009
March
2010
March
2011
March
2012
March
2013
March
2014
Recorded crime
(1)
5,843,549
5,476,771
5,425,691
5,322,377
4,881,140
4,630,383
4,265,036
4,078,475
3,903,581
3,553,191
3,506,699
-1.3%
Out of court disposals
247,767
357,136
498,785
608,127
616,203
560,795
479,474
420,944
391,171
336,672
293,897
-12.7%
Cannabis warnings
n/a
40,138
62,586
80,653
103,804
107,241
87,332
80,659
77,933
69,236
63,967
-7.6%
Penalty Notices for Disorder
(2)
n/a
51,223
107,513
147,790
136,702
115,625
107,467
90,199
77,915
61,909
45,473
-26.5%
Cautions 
247,767
265,775
328,686
379,684
375,697
337,929
284,675
250,086
235,323
205,527
184,457
-10.3%
Proceedings
1,154,051
1,032,331
1,025,047
972,993
977,315
960,685
1,001,162
1,021,961
977,362
879,466
871,619
-0.9%
Convictions
731,384
695,713
720,686
707,579
738,851
754,516
750,449
767,441
743,943
677,283
675,316
-0.3%
Offences taken into consideration
88,204
88,386
103,363
111,328
99,021
96,875
76,244
71,896
63,898
55,197
40,949
-25.8%
Proven offences
(3)
1,067,355
1,141,235
1,322,834
1,427,034
1,454,075
1,412,186
1,306,167
1,260,281
1,199,012
1,069,152
1,010,162
-5.5%
(2) Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to offenders aged 16 and over. Penalty Notices for Disorder information is only available from 12 months period ending March 2005 onwards.
(3) Includes out of court disposals, convictions and offences taken into consideration.
Table Q1.3 - Recorded crime and notifiable offence outcomes, 12 months ending March 2004 to 12 months ending March 2014
Percentage 
change 12 
months ending 
March 2013 to 
March 2014
(1) Excluding fraud offences. For the year ending March 2014 figures, the Office for National Statistics published headline national crime figures that include centralised (Action Fraud) recording of fraud and a separate series which excludes fraud.  Due to the staggered 
move of recording fraud offences by forces to Action Fraud, crime figures are shown excluding fraud offences to allow for consistent comparisons.  
12 months ending
 
 
 
 
21

 
 
 
22
Offence Group
12 months 
ending
Recorded 
crime(1)
Cannabis 
warnings
Penalty Notices 
for Disorder(2)
Cautions
Proceedings
Convictions
Violence against the person
March 2013
601,139
-
-
68,960
200,384
136,245
March 2014
634,586
-
-
62,138
197,549
135,303
Sexual offences
March 2013
53,620
-
-
1,644
28,630
19,153
March 2014
64,200
-
-
1,401
33,277
19,864
Robbery
March 2013
65,155
-
-
178
16,096
11,030
March 2014
57,818
-
-
110
13,510
9,144
Theft offences
March 2013
1,900,948
-
26,871
41,864
236,884
200,199
March 2014
1,845,243
-
19,342
37,151
237,829
202,396
Criminal damage and arson
March 2013
529,713
-
3,330
23,150
66,779
52,694
March 2014
506,190
-
1,897
21,487
62,366
50,075
Drug offences
March 2013
208,002
69,236
15,547
41,822
99,510
87,839
March 2014
198,176
63,967
12,933
38,088
99,183
88,106
Possession of weapons offences
March 2013
19,910
-
-
4,081
22,389
16,290
March 2014
20,620
-
-
3,355
22,465
16,942
Public order offences
March 2013
132,204
-
16,161
15,105
76,915
58,306
March 2014
134,433
-
11,301
13,438
72,027
55,680
Miscellaneous crimes against society
March 2013
42,500
-
-
4,601
86,621
63,214
March 2014
45,433
-
-
4,029
86,434
63,680
Fraud offences
(1)
March 2013
-
-
-
4,122
45,258
32,313
March 2014
-
-
-
3,260
46,979
34,126
Total notifiable offences
March 2013
3,553,191
69,236
61,909
205,527
879,466
677,283
March 2014
3,506,699
63,967
45,473
184,457
871,619
675,316
(2) Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to offenders aged 16 and over.
(1) Excluding fraud offences. For the year ending March 2014 figures, the Office for National Statistics published headline national crime figures that include centralised 
(Action Fraud) recording of fraud and a separate series which excludes fraud.  Due to the staggered move of recording fraud offences by forces to Action Fraud, crime 
figures are shown excluding fraud offences to allow for consistent comparisons.  
Table Q1.4 - Recorded crime and notifiable offence outcomes by offence group, 12 months ending March 2013 and 12 months ending March 2014

 
 
England and Wales
Thousands
March
2004
March
2005
March
2006
March
2007
March
2008
March
2009
March
2010
March
2011
March
2012
March
2013
March
2014
Crime measured by Crime Survey for England and Wales(1)
11,417
10,550
10,581
10,942
9,842
10,283
9,344
9,446
9,345
8,487
7,333
-13.6%
Notifiable offences
   offences recorded by the police(3)(4)
5,844
5,477
5,426
5,322
4,881
4,630
4,265
4,078
3,904
3,553
3,507
-1.3%
Number of offenders cautioned(5)
250
                 
258
         
314
         
359
         
356
         
322
         
273
         
241
         
224
         
195
         
176
         
-9.8%
of which for indictable offences (6)
154
                
158
        
191
        
206
        
200
        
178
        
150
        
132
        
120
        
102
        
91
          
-11.3%
Number of offenders issued Penalty Notices for Disorder
*
91
          
158
        
209
        
201
        
175
        
162
        
138
        
123
        
102
        
79
          
-22.6%
of which for indictable offences (6)
*
*
26
          
42
          
44
          
49
          
59
          
53
          
50
          
42
          
32
          
-23.9%
Number of offences detected by means of cannabis warnings (all indictable)(3)
*
40
           
63
           
81
           
104
         
107
         
87
           
81
           
78
           
69
           
64
           
-7.6%
Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts
2,057
              
1,955
      
1,899
      
1,746
      
1,714
      
1,640
      
1,691
      
1,644
      
1,557
      
1,460
      
1,407
      
-3.6%
of which for indictable offences (6)
502
                
433
        
427
        
401
        
401
        
402
        
419
        
439
        
417
        
363
        
362
        
-0.3%
Defendants found guilty at magistrates' courts
1,481
              
1,451
      
1,433
      
1,344
      
1,344
      
1,294
      
1,321
      
1,277
      
1,217
      
1,138
      
1,091
      
-4.1%
of which for indictable offences (6)
276
                
252
        
256
        
246
        
251
        
252
        
256
        
273
        
264
        
233
        
225
        
-3.6%
Defendants sentenced at the Crown Court after summary conviction
16
                   
15
           
19
           
17
           
17
           
18
           
17
           
19
           
21
           
19
           
18
           
-4.2%
Defendants tried at the Crown Court
78
                   
76
           
77
           
77
           
82
           
90
           
98
           
106
         
98
           
84
           
83
           
-1.7%
Defendants found guilty at the Crown Court
60
                   
59
           
59
           
59
           
66
           
72
           
79
           
85
           
79
           
68
           
68
           
0.1%
of which for indictable offences (6)
57
                  
56
          
57
          
56
          
62
          
69
          
75
          
80
          
76
          
65
          
65
          
0.1%
Total offenders found guilty at both courts
1,541
            
1,510
    
1,493
    
1,404
    
1,410
    
1,366
      
1,400
    
1,362
    
1,296
    
1,205
    
1,159
    
-3.9%
of which for indictable offences (6)
334
                
308
        
313
        
302
        
314
        
321
        
331
        
353
        
340
        
298
        
290
        
-2.8%
Total offenders found guilty or cautioned(5)
1,791
              
1,768
      
1,807
      
1,763
      
1,766
      
1,688
      
1,674
      
1,604
      
1,520
      
1,400
      
1,334
      
-4.7%
of which for indictable offences (6)
487
                
466
        
504
        
508
        
513
        
499
        
481
        
485
        
459
        
400
        
380
        
-4.9%
Total sentenced (offenders)
1,539
            
1,509
    
1,491
    
1,403
    
1,408
    
1,365
      
1,398
    
1,361
    
1,295
    
1,204
    
1,157
    
-3.9%
Magistrates' court
1,463
             
1,434
     
1,413
     
1,326
     
1,326
     
1,274
     
1,302
     
1,257
     
1,194
     
1,117
     
1,071
     
-4.1%
Crown Court
76
                  
74
          
78
          
77
          
83
          
91
          
96
          
104
        
100
        
87
          
86
          
-0.8%
Sentence
 Custody 
109
                
103
        
102
        
94
          
97
          
100
        
100
        
103
        
105
        
95
          
92
          
-3.4%
 Suspended Sentence
3
                    
3
            
16
          
37
          
41
          
41
          
46
          
49
          
48
          
44
          
48
          
9.8%
 Community Sentence
194
                
201
        
204
        
190
        
195
        
194
        
191
        
188
        
172
        
139
        
119
        
-14.6%
 Fine
1,078
             
1,054
     
1,026
     
943
        
933
        
898
        
939
        
889
        
846
        
813
        
787
        
-3.2%
 Other Sentences
156
                
148
        
144
        
138
        
143
        
132
        
123
        
132
        
124
        
112
        
111
        
-1.4%
*' = Not apllicable
(2) Not statistically significant, see Section 8 of the User Guide to Crime Statistics for England and Wales:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Crime+in+England+and+Wales
(3) Includes British Transport Police.
(6) Indictable offences include those triable-either-way.
(5) Cautions, written warnings and all fixed penalties for summary motoring offences are not covered in this volume but are published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, ' Motoring offences and breath tests'.
Table Q1.5 - Summary of criminal justice statistics, 12 months ending March 2004 to 12 months ending March 2014
Percentage 
change 12 
months ending 
Mar-13 to Mar-
14
(1) The offenders dealt with outside of court and defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ court in a given year may not relate to the same cases measured by the Crime Survey for England and Wales (known until 1 April 
2012 as the British Crime Survey) or those recorded to the police within the same year. The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimates relate to crimes experienced in the 12 months prior to interview. Further, offenders 
found guilty in a given year may have been proceeded against in an earlier year.
(4) Excluding fraud offences.  For the year ending March 2013 figures, the Office for National Statistics published headline national crime figures that include centralised (Action Fraud) recording of fraud and a separate series 
which excludes fraud.  Due to the staggered move of recording fraud offences by forces to Action Fraud, crime figures are shown excluding fraud offences to allow for consistent comparisons.  
12 months ending
 
23 

 
 
 
24 
Table 1.6 - Number of offences brought to justice (notifiable) across Local Criminal Justice Board areas, 12 months ending March 2004 to 12 Months ending March 2014 
This table is too large to put in the publication, please see overview tables https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly  
 
Table 1.7 - Number of offences brought to justice (notifiable) across Local Criminal Justice Board areas, 12 months ending March 2013 to 12 Months ending March 2014 (1)
Number of offences (thousands) 
CJS Areas
12 Month 
ending March 
2013
12 Month 
ending 
March2014
12 months 
ending March 
2013
12 months 
ending March 
2014
12 months 
ending March 
2013
12 months 
ending March 
2014
12 months 
ending March 
2013
12 months 
ending March 
2014
12 months 
ending March 
2013
12 months 
ending March 
2014
12 months 
ending March 
2013
12 months 
ending March 
2014
12 months 
ending March 
2013
12 months 
ending March 
2014
England & Wales
3,553.2
3,506.7
61.9
45.5
69.2
64.0
205.5
184.5
677.3
675.3
55.2
40.9
1069.2
1010.2
Avon & Somerset
97.9
96.9
1.7
1.2
2.1
1.9
7.3
6.5
21.4
20.9
2.3
2.2
34.8
32.7
Bedfordshire
35.1
36.3
0.3
0.3
0.5
0.4
2.0
1.8
6.4
6.3
0.9
0.5
10.0
9.3
British Transport Police
51.7
49.1
1.5
1.4
1.2
1.6
3.0
3.0
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
6.0
6.2
Cambridgeshire
45.6
44.0
1.1
0.7
1.3
1.1
2.2
1.9
7.8
7.9
0.9
0.8
13.2
12.5
Cheshire
56.6
54.9
0.7
0.5
0.9
0.9
2.9
2.2
11.5
11.9
0.7
0.4
16.7
15.9
Cleveland
39.2
39.0
0.5
0.4
0.5
0.6
3.6
2.7
11.3
11.2
0.6
0.3
16.6
15.2
Cumbria
23.0
24.0
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
2.1
1.8
7.4
7.3
0.1
0.1
10.4
10.0
Derbyshire
50.8
52.5
0.7
0.6
1.0
1.0
2.5
2.1
10.6
11.0
0.8
0.6
15.6
15.4
Devon & Cornwall
84.0
85.2
1.1
0.8
1.8
1.8
6.3
5.4
14.5
14.3
1.0
1.2
24.8
23.5
Dorset
39.8
37.2
0.5
0.3
0.6
0.6
2.1
1.7
6.4
6.8
0.3
0.4
9.7
9.8
Co. Durham & Darlington
29.8
32.8
0.8
0.6
0.3
0.4
3.1
3.0
7.9
8.1
0.7
0.6
12.9
12.7
Dyfed Powys 
18.7
18.6
0.7
0.6
1.0
0.9
3.7
3.0
6.2
6.3
0.1
0.0
11.8
10.8
Essex
98.6
99.3
1.3
1.2
1.3
1.4
6.0
5.5
17.4
18.8
0.8
1.1
26.8
28.1
Gloucestershire
29.6
29.5
0.2
0.2
0.6
0.4
1.7
1.4
5.1
5.3
0.3
0.5
7.8
7.8
Greater Manchester
180.4
181.9
2.3
1.2
3.4
2.3
7.4
6.3
40.7
40.0
2.4
2.2
56.2
52.0
Gwent
33.9
35.4
1.3
0.9
0.5
0.4
3.2
2.7
9.1
8.2
0.2
0.2
14.3
12.4
Hampshire & Isle of Wight
107.1
103.5
1.7
1.4
2.4
2.4
5.8
5.1
23.7
22.2
1.0
1.1
34.5
32.2
Hertfordshire
52.1
51.4
2.1
1.7
1.7
1.9
4.7
4.1
12.4
11.9
1.4
0.9
22.4
20.6
Humberside
62.8
65.9
1.3
0.8
0.6
0.6
3.5
2.9
14.9
15.3
1.2
0.7
21.4
20.3
Kent
98.4
108.9
2.8
1.7
0.9
1.0
7.9
6.5
17.5
18.7
2.7
0.9
32.0
28.9
Lancashire
92.4
95.4
2.1
1.1
1.0
1.0
6.8
4.8
25.1
23.7
2.7
1.0
37.7
31.6
Leicestershire
58.3
60.8
0.9
0.7
1.1
1.0
4.1
3.4
11.0
10.4
1.8
1.2
18.9
16.6
Lincolnshire
37.1
36.0
0.8
0.5
0.5
0.5
2.2
2.1
7.6
6.9
0.5
0.5
11.6
10.5
London
749.3
704.2
10.3
7.3
21.6
19.5
30.9
31.8
102.6
104.2
8.9
6.1
174.4
xx-xxxx-xxxx
Merseyside
89.8
93.3
3.7
3.0
2.6
2.7
4.1
3.7
20.4
20.9
0.4
0.6
31.2
30.8
Norfolk
37.8
38.1
0.8
0.6
0.7
0.9
3.4
3.3
9.9
9.9
1.0
1.1
15.8
15.8
North Wales
37.7
36.5
0.8
0.5
0.5
0.6
2.3
2.2
8.9
9.1
0.4
0.3
12.9
12.8
North Yorkshire
34.5
34.5
0.5
0.3
0.7
0.8
1.9
1.9
7.2
7.0
0.5
0.2
12.8
12.1
Northamptonshire
46.3
40.9
0.3
0.2
0.5
0.5
2.6
2.4
20.7
19.9
0.8
0.9
11.4
11.1
Northumbria
66.9
70.1
1.2
0.9
1.4
1.1
6.5
6.8
9.3
9.0
1.1
0.9
30.9
29.6
Nottinghamshire
67.5
68.5
0.5
0.2
1.5
1.3
6.2
5.1
13.7
13.5
1.2
0.7
23.1
20.8
South Wales
83.9
82.1
2.1
1.7
1.2
1.1
4.6
4.6
21.4
22.5
2.0
1.7
31.3
31.6
South Yorkshire
92.6
91.7
2.0
1.4
1.0
0.9
3.5
3.5
15.9
17.3
3.4
1.5
25.8
24.6
Staffordshire
58.1
59.4
1.1
0.8
1.0
1.1
3.8
2.7
10.8
11.2
0.9
0.4
17.7
16.2
Suffolk
39.3
36.4
0.5
0.3
0.5
0.6
2.5
2.2
8.3
8.3
0.5
0.5
12.3
12.0
Surrey
51.8
48.5
1.2
0.9
1.3
1.2
2.3
2.1
9.0
9.1
0.6
0.3
14.4
13.6
Sussex
89.4
83.4
0.9
0.8
1.6
1.3
6.4
5.2
17.4
15.9
0.4
0.1
26.8
23.4
Thames Valley
131.8
127.5
3.6
2.8
2.0
1.7
7.6
7.0
22.0
20.0
1.7
1.5
36.8
32.9
Warwickshire
29.1
28.4
0.6
0.4
0.4
0.3
1.8
1.7
4.0
4.1
0.3
0.5
7.1
6.9
West Mercia
59.5
58.0
0.7
0.6
1.0
0.9
4.2
3.8
11.6
10.7
0.2
0.2
17.7
16.2
West Midlands
xx-xxxx-xxxx
174.5
2.0
1.8
1.5
1.1
6.2
5.4
33.5
34.9
1.0
1.0
44.2
44.2
West Yorkshire
162.4
159.5
2.0
1.6
2.0
1.6
7.9
7.3
28.7
28.2
5.6
4.4
46.2
43.1
Wiltshire
33.6
32.8
0.5
0.4
0.5
0.5
2.3
1.3
6.1
6.1
0.5
0.3
9.9
8.6
'*' = Not applicable
(P) Provisional
Notes
TIC and Cannabis warning figures are provisional and may be revised following Home Office validation. National Statistics for the financial year 2013/14 will be published during 2014 by the Home Office.
TIC data excludes fraud to allow for a fair comparison over time. Over the last few years the recording of fraud offences and outcomes has moved from police forces to Action Fraud.
(1) The number of Offences Brought to Justice (OBTJ) is in part affected by the number of recorded crimes in an area. 
If recorded crime in an area falls there will be fewer offences which can potentially be brought to justice.
(2) Excluding fraud offences. For the year ending March 2013 figures, the Office for National Statistics published headline national crime figures that include centralised (Action Fraud) recording of fraud and a separate series which excludes fraud.  Due to the staggered move 
of recording fraud offences by forces to Action Fraud, crime figures are shown excluding fraud offences to allow for consistent comparisons.  
Cautions
Convictions
 Offences Taken into 
Consideration 
Offences Brought to Justice
Recorded Crime(2)
Penalty Notice for Disorder
Cannabis Warnings(P)
 

 
 
Revisions Policy 
 
In accordance with Principle 2 of the Code of Practice for Office Statistics, the 
Ministry of Justice is required to publish transparent guidance on its policy for 
revisions.  A copy of this statement can be found at:  
 
www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/statistics/mojstats/statistics-revisions-policy.pdf 
 
The Ministry of Justice aims to avoid the need for revisions to publications unless 
they are absolutely necessary and put systems and processes in place to 
minimise the number of revisions.  
Within the Ministry of Justice’s statistical publications there can be three main 
reasons for statistics to be revised:  
 
Changes in how either source administrative systems collect information 
or a change in statistical methodology to improve accuracy and 
measurement. 
 
Receipt of subsequent information which alters our understanding of 
previous periods (for example – late recording on one of the administrative 
IT systems used operationally). 
 
Errors in our statistical systems and processes.  
Our policy in handling revisions is to be transparent with users about:  
 
The need for revisions.  
 
How and when to expect revisions as part of our standard processes. 
 
The processes by which other revisions will be communicated and 
published.  
To meet these commitments, all of our statistical publications will:  
 
Ensure that the need for major revisions for any series are pre-announced 
on the Ministry of Justice website. 
 
Include a detailed revisions policy within every release.  
 
Detail how users will be informed of the need for revisions.  
 
Give detailed and full explanations as to why the revisions were 
necessary.  
In addition, the annual report from the Head of Profession to the National 
Statistician will: 
 
Provide information on how many revisions were required to our 
publications and the reasons for these.  
 
Publish a time-series of revisions due to errors in our statistical processes 
and procedures so we can monitor the quality of our outputs.  
 
25

 
 
 
26
Explanatory Notes 
 
The statistics in this bulletin relate to cases in the Crown Court and magistrates’ 
courts in England and Wales during 12 months ending March 2014. This bulletin 
subsumes a number of previous bulletins including Criminal Statistics: England & 
Wales, Quarterly Sentencing Statistics, and Young People aged 10-17 receiving their 
first reprimand, warning or conviction.  
 
Symbols and conventions  
 
The following symbols have been used throughout the tables in this bulletin:  
 
- = Nil 
* = Not applicable 
.. = Not available 
(R) = Revised data  
(P) = Provisional data  
 
Guidance on tables and supplementary volumes 
 
This bulletin is supported by a range of Excel spreadsheet workbooks, pivot tables 
and CSV files, presenting statistics for the latest calendar year, alongside back series 
for previous comparable years where applicable. These workbooks, pivot tables and 
CSV files can be accessed at: 
www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly  
 
 
Contacts 
 
Press enquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Justice press office:  
 
Tel: xx-xxxx-xxxx  
Email: xxx@xxx.xx 
 
Other enquiries about these statistics should be directed to the Justice Statistics  
Analytical Services division of the Ministry of Justice:  
 
John Marais, (Acting) Chief Statistician  
Ministry of Justice, 7th Floor, 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ  
Email: xxx@xxx.xx 
 
General enquiries about the statistical work of the Ministry of Justice can be e-mailed 
to: xxx@xxx.xx 
 
General information about the official statistics system of the UK is available from: 
www.statistics.gov.uk 
 
© Crown copyright 
Produced by the Ministry of Justice 
Alternative formats are available on request from 
xxx@xxx.xx