Criminal justice statistics: September 2012 (PDF)
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 September 2012 
Ministry of Justice  
Statistics bulletin 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Published 21st February 2013

Contents 
 
Introduction ................................................................................................................. 3 
 
Main findings............................................................................................................... 4 
Out of Court Disposals .............................................................................................5 
Court proceedings and sentencing...........................................................................7 
Offending histories..................................................................................................12 
Offences .................................................................................................................14 
 
Out of court disposals ............................................................................................... 18 
Penalty Notices for Disorder...................................................................................18 
Cautions .................................................................................................................23 
 
Court proceedings..................................................................................................... 28 
Remands ................................................................................................................29 
Failure to Appear warrants (outstanding) ...............................................................32 
 
Offenders found guilty............................................................................................... 40 
 
Sentencing ................................................................................................................ 46 
 
Offences.................................................................................................................... 61 
 
Offending histories .................................................................................................... 67 
First offences and further offences.........................................................................68 
First time entrants to Criminal Justice system ........................................................71 
Criminal histories....................................................................................................71 
 
Explanatory notes ..................................................................................................... 79 
 
Contacts.................................................................................................................... 80 
 
 
2

Introduction 
 
This report presents the key trends on the latest twelve months (October 2011 to 
September 2012) of activity in the Criminal Justice System (CJS) for England and 
Wales.  
 
All data for January to September 2012 are provisional. 
 
Alongside the publication is a technical document titled “Criminal Justice Statistics: 
Background, Definitions and Measurement”. This document provides users with 
detailed information on the concepts and methods used in compiling this bulletin, 
including the quality of the data. A copy of the technical document can be found at:                                  
www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/criminal-justice/criminal-
annual.htm 
 
Where appropriate, comparisons are made between different sources covering 
activity in the Criminal Justice System (CJS). In particular, comparisons are made to 
numbers of crimes recorded by the police (often the starting point for crimes dealt 
with by other CJS agencies) rather than estimates from the Crime Survey for 
England and Wales (CSEW). The CSEW provides robust estimates of trends in 
crimes against the population resident in households, including those never reported 
to the police, but excludes other crimes such as those against businesses or so-
called ‘victimless’ crime. Therefore police recorded crime provides a more meaningful 
comparison for measures relating to the wider CJS. Findings from the CSEW and 
recorded crime are published together in statistical bulletins by the Office for National 
Statistics. 
 
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 
Criminal Justice System. 
 
Information about statistical revisions, forthcoming changes and the symbols and 
conventions used in the bulletin are given in the explanatory notes section. 
 
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. 
 
3

Main findings 
 
Overview of the Criminal Justice System in the 12 months ending September 
2012  
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 1.86 million individuals1 given 
an out of court disposal or proceeded against at court.  This compares with 2.03 
million individuals in the 12 months ending September 2011, a decline of 8.4 per 
cent.  This included a 13.0 per cent fall in the use of out of court disposals (from 
444,400 to 386,900) – continuing the fall in the use of out of court disposals since the 
peak in the 12 months ending September 2007 (673,800). 
 
There was also a 7.1 per cent fall in the number of defendants proceeded against at 
court (from 1,471,300 to 1,583,400) in the 12 months ending September 2012 from 
the previous year. This continues the decrease observed since the peak in 12 
months ending September 2004, which has been mainly driven by falls in 
prosecutions for summary offences, which have fallen by 31.1 per cent during this 
period.  
 
Since the 12 months ending September 2004, convictions for summary offences 
have fallen largely in line with trends in prosecutions (down 26.1 per cent). 
Convictions for indictable offences have not followed this pattern however, and since 
the 12 months ending September 2002 have fluctuated with a high of 344,700 and a 
low of 307,400. 
 
Table Q1.1:   Activity in the Criminal Justice System, 12 months ending 
September 2008 to 12 months ending September 2012  
England and Wales
Sept 2008
Sept 2009
Sept 2010
Sept 2011
Sept 2012
Out of court disposals
624,430
571,561
478,581
444,441
386,857
-13.0%
Cannabis warnings
104,273
95,117
82,299
79,167
71,553
(P)
-9.6%
(P)
Penalty Notices for Disorder (1)
182,519
174,720
145,686
130,270
109,636
-15.8%
Cautions 
337,638
301,724
250,596
235,004
205,668
-12.5%
Defendants proceeded against
1,656,670
1,681,906
1,665,259
1,583,373
1,471,304
-7.1%
Indictable offences
(2)
396,618
413,133
433,089
423,070
377,049
-10.9%
Summary offences
1,260,052
1,268,773
1,232,170
1,160,303
1,094,255
-5.7%
Defendants convicted
1,373,208
1,400,417
1,375,491
1,319,159
1,228,974
-6.8%
Indictable offences
315,432
327,626
344,711
344,350
311,603
-9.5%
Summary offences
1,057,776
1,072,791
1,030,780
974,809
917,371
-5.9%
Prison receptions
(3)
100,004
96,378
90,999
89,982
88,465
(P)
-0.3%
(P)
Probation starts(4)
165,543
169,823
166,917
162,467
151,793
-8.3%
(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.
(P) Provisional
Note: Figures for cannabis warnings appearing in this publication are provisional and may be revised following Home Office validation. Finalised National 
Statistics will be published by the Home Office in July 2013 by financial year.
12 months ending
Percentage 
change 12 
months ending 
Sept 2011 to 12 
months ending 
Sept 2012
 
 
 
                                                
1 Includes people and companies. 
 
4

Figure 1.1:   
Summary of activity in the Criminal Justice System, 12 
months ending September 2008 to 12 months ending 
September 2012 
 
Out of Court Disposals 
 
Since the 12 months ending September 2008, the use of out of court disposals has 
decreased by 38.0 per cent (from 624,400 to 386,900 in 12 months ending 
September 2012). The decline in the use of out of court disposals coincided with the 
replacement in April 2008 of a target to increase offences brought to justice, with one 
placing more emphasis on bringing serious crime to justice. The latter target was 
subsequently removed in May 2010. 
 
Police cautions 
 
There were 205,700 cautions administered in the 12 months ending September 2012 
(including juveniles given a reprimand or warnings), representing a 12.5 per cent 
decrease compared with the 12 months ending September 2011 (235,000). This 
continues the downward trend in the use of cautions observed since a peak in the 12 
months ending September 2007 (367,300). The 12 months ending September 2012 
figure represents a 44.0 per cent decrease compared to this peak. 
 
The decrease in cautions between the 12 months ending September 2011 and the 
12 months ending September 2012 was largely driven by the decline in cautions 
administered for indictable offences. In particular, the largest relative decreases 
observed were for the indictable offence groups robbery and violence against the 
person, which fell by 31.1 per cent and 24.5 per cent respectively (from 2,700 to 
1,800 and 17,800 to 13,500 respectively).  
 
Four in every five cautions issued for indictable offences are for violence against the 
person, theft and handling stolen goods or drug offences. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5

Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) and cannabis warnings 
 
There were 109,600 PNDs issued in the 12 months ending September 2012, a 
decrease of 15.8 per cent compared with the 12 months ending September 2011 
(130,300). Similar to cautions, this continues the downward trend in issues of PNDs 
observed since a peak in the 12 months ending September 2007. The 12 months 
ending September 2012 figure represents a 48.9 per cent decrease compared with 
the 12 months ending September 2007 (214,400). 
 
PNDs issued for possession of cannabis have risen year-on-year since coming into 
effect in 2009. There was a less than one per cent increase in the 12 months ending 
September 2012 compared with the 12 months ending September 2011, suggesting 
the large increases seen in previous years since their introduction may be levelling 
off. However, cannabis warnings decreased by 7,600 (from 79,200 to 71,600, a 9.6 
per cent decline) over the same period.  
 
Figure 1.2:   
Out of court disposals, 12 months ending September 2002 to 
12 months ending September 2012 
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
12 months ending September
Thousands
Cannabis warnings
Penalty Notices for Disorder
Cautions
 
 
6

Court proceedings and sentencing 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012 there were 1.47 million defendants 
proceeded against in magistrates’ courts and 1.23 million offenders convicted of a 
criminal offence at all courts.  Prosecutions and convictions peaked in the 12 months 
ending September 2004, and both have since fallen by 28.6 per cent and 21.5 per 
cent respectively. These falls have largely been driven by declines in proceedings for 
summary non motoring and summary motoring offences.  
Figure 1.3:   
Defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts by 
offence type, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months 
ending September 2012 
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
2,000
2,200
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
12 months ending September
Prosecutions (thousands)
Summary motoring
Summary non-motoring
Indictable
 
 
For the more serious indictable offences, prosecutions have fallen by 26.5 per cent 
since September 2002, but the number of convictions remained broadly flat over the 
same period. As a result, the conviction ratio for indictable offences increased from 
65.3 per cent in September 2002 to 82.6 per cent in the 12 months ending 
September 2012 - the highest ratio in 11 years.   
Looking over the past year, there were 7.1 per cent fewer proceedings in the 12 
months ending September 2012 (compared to 1.58 million in the previous 12 month 
period). This in turn resulted in a decrease of 6.8 per cent in offenders convicted and 
sentenced.  
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were: 
 
377,000 prosecutions and 311,600 convictions for indictable offences - a 
decrease of 10.9 and 9.5 per cent compared with the previous 12 month 
period. 
 
578,200 prosecutions and 470,200 convictions for summary non-motoring 
offences - a decrease of 3.6 per cent and 4.0 per cent respectively compared 
with the previous 12 month period. 
 
7

 
516,100 prosecutions and 447,200 convictions for summary motoring 
offences - a decrease of 7.9 per cent and 7.8 per cent respectively compared 
with the previous 12 month period. 
Figure 1.4:   
Percentage change in convictions by offence type and offence 
group, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending 
September 2012 
All offences, -11.7
Summary motoring offences, 
-24.2
Summary Non Motoring, 0.6
Total Indictable, -6.9
Indictable motoring, -32.1
Other indictable 
(excluding motoring),
-7.0
Drug offences, 21.4
Criminal damage, -43.4
Fraud and forgery, -21.7
Theft and handling stolen 
goods, -12.1
Burglary, -12.2
Robbery, 16.4
Sexual 
offences, 38.6
Violence against the person, 
1.4
-60.0
-40.0
-20.0
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
1
Percentage change, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012
 
 
Immediate custody 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 97,500 persons sentenced to 
immediate custody, a decrease of 4.7 per cent from 102,300 persons in the same 
period a year earlier and 12.6 per cent lower than the peak over the last 11 years of 
111,500 persons sentenced to immediate custody in the 12 months ending 
September 2002. 
 
While absolute numbers of persons sentenced to immediate custody have decreased 
in recent years, the immediate custody rate (the proportion of those sentenced who 
are sentenced to immediate custody) has risen from a low of 6.6 per cent in the 12 
months ending September 2007 to 8.0 per cent in the 12 months ending September 
2012. This illustrates that, since 2007, the overall number of offenders sentenced at 
court has decreased faster than the number of persons sentenced to immediate 
custody.  
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 1,218 indeterminate sentences 
(either a life sentence or an Indeterminate sentence for Public Protection – an IPP) 
handed down, a 1.1 per cent decrease from 1,232 in the same period a year earlier. 
This continued the fall since the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act (CJIA) 2008 
was introduced, which restricted the use of IPPs. Within this group, the number of life 
sentences increased from 365 in the 12 months ending September 2011 to 426 in 
the 12 months ending September 2012. The decrease in indeterminate sentences 
has coincided with an increase in longer determinate sentences. In the 12 months 
ending September 2012, there were 690 custodial sentences of over 10 years and 
less than life handed down, a 10.2 per cent increase from 626 in the same period a 
year earlier. 
 
8

 
 
Table Q1.2:   
Offenders sentenced by principal sentence, 12 months ending 
September 2008 to 12 months ending September 2012 
England and Wales
Sept 2008
Sept 2009
Sept 2010
Sept 2011
Sept 2012
Total offenders sentenced(1)
1,372,099
1,398,752
1,373,317
1,318,080
1,227,941
-6.8%
Total persons sentenced
(2)
1,364,122
1,390,057
1,365,372
1,310,823
1,221,445
-6.8%
Immediate custody (persons)
99,598
100,350
100,308
102,290
97,484
-4.7%
Suspended sentence (persons)
41,733
43,876
47,303
48,634
44,358
-8.8%
Community sentence (persons)
190,592
197,865
189,159
178,845
153,873
-14.0%
Fines (all offenders)
895,577
936,435
905,965
861,731
816,602
-5.2%
Other disposals (all offenders)
144,599
120,226
130,582
126,580
115,624
-8.7%
Average custodial sentence length (months)
(3)
13.0
13.4
13.8
14.3
14.9
4.2%
Percentage point
change
Immediate custody (persons)
7.3
7.2
7.3
7.8
8.0
0.2
Suspended sentence (persons)
3.1
3.2
3.5
3.7
3.6
-0.1
Community sentence (persons)
14.0
14.2
13.9
13.6
12.6
-1.0
Fines (all offenders)
65.3
66.9
66.0
65.4
66.5
1.1
Other disposals (all offenders)
10.5
8.6
9.5
9.6
9.4
-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.
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 Sept 2011 
to 12 months 
ending Sept 2012
 
 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, the Average Custodial Sentence Length 
(ACSL) was 14.9 months, an increase of 0.6 months compared to the 12 months 
ending September 2011, and an increase of 2.5 months compared to the 12 months 
ending September 2002. In addition to the increase in determinate sentences of over 
ten years and less than life, the rise in ACSL has been driven by the change in the 
case mix of people getting custodial sentences and longer sentences for indictable 
offences: 
 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2002, summary motoring offences 
accounted for 15.3 per cent of immediate custodial sentences, with an ACSL 
of 3.4 months. By the 12 months ending September 2012, they accounted for 
just 3.0 per cent of immediate custodial sentences, with a reduction in ACSL 
to 3.1 months. 
 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2002, indictable offences accounted for 
76.2 per cent of immediate custodial sentences, with an ACSL of 15.2 
months. By the 12 months ending September 2012, they accounted for 83.2 
per cent of immediate custodial sentences, with an increase in ACSL to 17.4 
months. In particular, sexual offences saw a rise in ACSL from 39.6 months in 
the 12 months ending September 2004 to 54.2 months in the 12 months 
ending September 2012, following the implementation of the Sexual Offences 
Act 2003. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9

Figure 1.5:   Offenders receiving an indeterminate custodial sentence and 
average custodial sentence length for all offenders, 12 months 
ending September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012 
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
12 months ending September
Number of indeterminate sentence
10.5
11.0
11.5
12.0
12.5
13.0
13.5
14.0
14.5
15.0
ACSL (months)
Life sentences
Indeterminate sentences for Public Protection (IPPs)
ACSL
 
 
Fines 
 
Fines are the most common sentence passed at court, accounting for around two-
thirds of all sentences handed down by the criminal courts (66.5 per cent in the 12 
months ending September 2012). In the 12 months ending September 2012, there 
were 816,600 fines handed down (99.8 per cent of these being issued at magistrates’ 
courts), a decrease of 5.2 per cent from the same period a year earlier and the 
lowest number of fines handed out over the last 11 years.  
 
The majority of fines issued in the 12 months ending September 2012 were for 
summary offences, with only 6.6 per cent issued for indictable offences. 
 
The fine rate of 66.5 per cent is broadly consistent with that seen in the same period 
a year earlier, and has declined from a peak of 70.3 per cent in the 12 months ending 
September 2004. The decline has been due to a decline in prosecutions and 
subsequent conviction for summary motoring offences – the offence type for which 
fines are most commonly given. 
 
 
Suspended Sentences and Community Orders 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, 153,900 people (or 12.5 per cent of 
persons sentenced) were given a Community Sentence, a decrease of 14.0 per cent 
from the same period a year earlier. 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, 44,400 people (or 3.6 per cent of persons 
sentenced) were given a Suspended Sentence Order, a decrease of 8.8 per cent 
from the same period a year earlier.   
 
10

 
 
Figure 1.6:  Flows through the Criminal Justice System, 12 months ending 
September 2012 
 
Notifiable and non-notifiable principal offences ( * all offences)
Cautions
205,668
109,636
    
2,213,990
1,568,067 (*)
(*)
Guilty Plea
83,847
Not Guilty Plea
10,034
Fined
Custody
Other
Fined
Custody
Suspended
Other
disposal
sentence
disposal
1,496
45,830
3,519
185
7,152
1,393
344
Fined
Custody
Other 
814,921
44,502
111,761
14.9 months
(2) Receptions for offenders given a custodial sentence (figures include fine defaulters)
960
CPS discontinue the case
or case unable to proceed
Community 
sentence
sentence
(*)
164,900
93,881
Number committed for sentence at Crown Court
73,372
Total sentences to be served in the community
(4)
Number committed for trial at the Crown Court
91,717
Crown Prosecution Service receive papers
from the police for prosecution
CPS proceed with charge
Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts
Number found guilty by magistrates
71,553
1,471,304
Probation starts
(3)
151,793
(1) Covers all indictable, including triable either way, offences plus a few closely associated summary offences. 
Prison receptions
(2)
88,465
Offences
Defendants (offences)
Number sentenced by the Crown Court
(4)
Number sentenced by magistrates
21,542
Cannabis 
Number found guilty at Crown Court
sentence
1,134,060
Community
Total sentenced to custody
138,731
97,484
Suspended 
Average custodial sentence length
sentence
24,145
198,231
Notifiable
Recorded Crime 
(1)
14,182
Suspended
18,820
Community
Penalty Notices for Disorder
1,155,602
3,764,919
Offences detected
 
(2) Receptions for offenders given a custodial sentence (figures include fine defaulters)
(3) Offenders starting Community Order or Suspended Sentence Order supervision by the Probation Service
(4) In a small number of cases the plea data is not recorded.
*    Total number of all offences in comparison with the total number of defendants on a principal offence basis.
(1) Covers all indictable, including triable either way, offences plus a few closely associated summary offences. 
 
 
11

Offending histories 
 
This section provides an overview of the changing structure of the known offending 
population with information on the breakdown of offences committed by new 
offenders and repeat offenders, the trends in new entrants to the criminal justice 
system, and breakdowns of the criminal histories of cautioned and sentenced 
offenders. 
 
Key points in the 12 months ending September 2012: 
 
 
There were 187,700 first time entrants to the criminal justice system 
(offenders who received their first conviction or caution). This is down 12.8 
per cent from the year ending September 2011 and 43.6 per cent from the 
peak of 332,800 first time entrants in the year ending September 2007.  
 
 
The reduction in the number of first time entrants seen over the last five years 
has been much sharper for juveniles, down 71.5 per cent since the year 
ending September 2007, than for adults, down 29.7 per cent in the same 
period.  
 
 
The rate of first time entrants per head of population has also fallen 
substantially amongst juveniles, down from a little over 2,000 per 100,000 
population in the 12 months ending September 2007 to an equivalent figure of 
595 in the most recent period. However, although the gap is narrowing, the 
rate still remains higher for juveniles than for adults (353 per 100,000).  
 
 
Around four times as many juvenile first time entrants receive a reprimand or 
warning from the police than are convicted by a criminal court. Amongst adult 
first time entrants, the proportions receiving a caution and being convicted are 
roughly equal.  
 
 
15.0 per cent of juveniles sentenced for indictable offences were first time 
entrants, while 64.5 per cent had between one and six previous convictions, 
reprimands or warnings and 4.3 per cent had 15 or over previous convictions, 
reprimands or warnings. For adults, 9.3 per cent were first time entrants, 
while 36.3 per cent had 15 or more previous convictions or cautions.  
 
 
The proportion of juveniles sentenced for indictable offences with 15 or more 
previous convictions, reprimands or warnings has fallen slightly compared to 
the 12 months ending September 2011, but has increased by 2.7 per cent 
since the 12 months ending 2002. For adults, the proportion with 15 or more 
previous convictions or cautions has increased 13.5 per cent since the 12 
months ending 2002.  
 
 
39.2 per cent of offenders sentenced for indictable offences with 15 or more 
previous convictions or cautions were sentenced to immediate custody while 
19.9 per cent were given a community sentence. This compares to 25.6 per 
cent and 34.6 per cent respectively for those first time entrants sentenced.  
 
12

 
Figure 1.7:   
First offences and further offences of all offenders, recorded on 
the Police National Computer, 12 months ending September 
2012, England and Wales 
 
 
 
Offences dealt with by reprimand, warning, 
caution or conviction 
782,698 (100%) 
First offences 
187,692 (24%) 
Further offences 
595,006 (76%) 
Caution, 
reprimand, or 
warning 
103,683 (13%)
 
Conviction 
84,009 (11%) 
Caution, 
reprimand, or 
warning 
103,513 (13%) 
 
Conviction 
491,493 (63%
 
 
) 
Juveniles 
25,186
(3%)
Juveniles 
6,411
(1%) 
Juveniles 
9,991
(1%)
Juveniles 
44,153
(6%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adults 
78,497
(10%
Adults 
77,598
(10%) 
Adults 
93,522
(12%
Adults 
447,340
(57%) 
 
) 
 
 
) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13

Offences 
 
This section differs from the previous section in that it considers the total number of 
notifiable2 offences. 
 
Much of the activity in the Criminal Justice System starts with the police, when a 
crime is reported, investigated and detected. The Home Office report on the police 
activity and the crimes they deal with.  In the 12 months ending September 2012, 
recorded crime decreased by 7.1 per cent, from 4.05 million in the 12 months ending 
September 2011, to 3.76 million offences.  
 
Over the same period, for the equivalent notifiable offences, the use of out of court 
disposals decreased by 12.2 per cent. Specifically, Penalty Notices for Disorder 
(PNDs) were down 17.7 per cent, cautions decreased 11.1 per cent and cannabis 
warnings reduced by 9.6 per cent. Convictions for notifiable offences also decreased, 
by 6.0 per cent. 
 
 
Table Q1.3:   
Recorded crime and notifiable offence outcomes, 12 months 
ending September 2008 to 12 months ending September 2012 
 
England and Wales
Sept 2008
Sept 2009
Sept 2010
Sept 2011
Sept 2012
Recorded Crime
4,770,973
4,492,374
4,164,429
4,053,423
3,764,919
-7.1%
Out of court disposals
581,582
526,397
437,724
405,223
355,908
-12.2%
Cannabis warnings
104,273
95,117
82,299
79,167
71,553
-9.6%
Penalty Notices for Disorder (1) 
121,883
115,250
95,614
82,878
68,177
-17.7%
Cautions 
355,426
316,030
259,811
243,178
216,178
-11.1%
Proceedings
959,604
989,635
1,019,472
979,141
902,734
-7.8%
Convictions
729,489
755,141
762,147
744,197
699,340
-6.0%
Offences taken into consideration 
105,180
91,560
75,047
71,991
61,381
-14.7%
Proven offences
(2)
1,416,251
1,373,098
1,274,918
1,221,411
1,116,629
-8.6%
(1) Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to offenders aged 16 and over.
(2) Includes out of court disposals, convictions and offences taken into consideration.
(P) Provisional
Note: Figures for cannabis warnings appearing in this publication are provisional and may be revised following Home Office validation. Finalised National 
Statistics will be published by the Home Office in July 2013 by financial year.
12 months ending
Percentage 
change 12 months 
ending Sept 2011 
to 12 months 
ending Sept 2012
 
 
 
  
                                                
2 Notifiable offences include all offences that could possibly be tried by jury (i.e. indictable and triable-
either-way offences) plus a few additional closely related summary offences, such as assault without 
injury.  Offence groups in notifiable offence tables in this section therefore differ from groups shown in 
other sections which may be restricted to indictable offences only. 
 
14

 
 
Offence Group
12 months ending
Recorded 
crime
Cannabis 
warnings(P)
Penalty Notices 
for Disorder(1) 
Cautions
Proceedings
Convictions
Violence against the person
Sept 2011
782,005
-
26,292
97,485
312,808
213,470
Sept 2012
739,651
-
19,029
87,908
285,743
195,139
Sexual offences
Sept 2011
54,404
-
-
1,740
32,543
19,709
Sept 2012
51,814
-
-
1,663
29,871
19,773
Burglary
Sept 2011
514,353
-
-
3,925
45,663
31,985
Sept 2012
474,257
-
-
3,053
42,976
30,682
Robbery
Sept 2011
77,592
-
-
274
20,310
12,439
Sept 2012
68,811
-
-
186
18,019
12,473
Theft and handling stolen goods
Sept 2011
1,525,267
-
35,932
52,251
220,540
186,936
Sept 2012
1,443,016
-
29,454
43,503
213,401
182,920
Fraud and forgery
Sept 2011
142,922
-
-
6,147
65,480
49,328
Sept 2012
138,167
-
-
5,817
56,882
42,757
Criminal damage
Sept 2011
660,574
-
5,422
29,218
75,363
59,927
Sept 2012
573,932
-
3,938
24,696
69,728
55,222
Drug offences
Sept 2011
233,123
79,167
15,232
45,088
110,044
96,173
Sept 2012
217,737
71,553
15,756
43,617
100,878
90,274
Other notifiable offences
Sept 2011
63,183
-
-
7,050
96,390
74,230
Sept 2012
57,534
-
-
5,735
85,236
70,100
All Notifiable Offences
Sept 2011
4,053,423
79,167
82,878
243,178
979,141
744,197
Sept 2012
3,764,919
71,553
68,177
216,178
902,734
699,340
(1) Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to offenders aged 16 and over.
(P) Provisional
Table Q1.4 - Recorded crime and notifiable offence outcomes by offence group, 12 months ending September 2011 and 12 months ending September 2012
Note: Figures for cannabis warnings appearing in this publication are provisional and may be revised following Home Office validation. Finalised National Statistics will be published 
by the Home Office in July 2013 by financial year.
 
15

 
 
 
 
 
England and Wales
Thousands
Sept 2002 Sept 2003 Sept 2004 Sept 2005 Sept 2006 Sept 2007 Sept 2008 Sept 2009 Sept 2010 Sept 2011 Sept 2012
Crime measured by British Crime Survey(1)
12,403
12,251
10,941
10,690
11,138
10,811
10,523
9,930
9,348
9,689
8,872
-8.4
Notifiable offences
-   offences recorded by the police
5,833
6,003
5,831
5,580
5,491
5,214
4,838
4,554
4,223
4,053
3,765
-7.1
Number of offenders cautioned(3)
225
         
235
         
254
         
284
         
339
         
367
         
338
         
302
         
251
         
235
         
206
         
-12.5
of which Indictable offences (4)
142
        
147
        
155
        
174
        
201
        
209
        
188
        
165
        
138
        
127
        
108
        
-14.3
Number of offenders issued Penalty Notices for Disorder 
..
..
..
131
         
188
         
214
         
183
         
175
         
146
         
130
         
110
         
-15.8
of which for indictable offences (4)
..
..
..
17
          
34
          
46
          
44
          
58
          
55
          
51
          
45
          
Number of offenders issued cannabis warnings (all indictable)
..
..
..
43
           
73
           
92
           
104
         
95
           
82
           
79
           
72
           
Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts
1,890
      
1,967
      
2,060
      
1,917
      
1,807
      
1,742
      
1,657
      
1,682
      
1,665
      
1,583
      
1,471
      
-7.1
of which Indictable offences (4)
513
        
512
        
471
        
423
        
414
        
403
        
397
        
413
        
433
        
423
        
377
        
-10.9
Defendants found guilty at magistrates' courts
1,333
      
1,401
      
1,505
      
1,439
      
1,378
      
1,352
      
1,304
      
1,325
      
1,292
      
1,236
      
1,156
      
-6.5
of which Indictable offences (4)
278
        
279
        
266
        
251
        
252
        
248
        
249
        
256
        
266
        
266
        
241
        
-9.2
Defendants sentenced at the Crown Court after summary conviction
16
           
16
           
16
           
17
           
18
           
16
           
18
           
18
           
17
           
20
           
21
           
1.8
Defendants tried at the Crown Court
76
           
80
           
80
           
77
           
76
           
81
           
87
           
94
           
105
         
104
         
92
           
-11.7
Defendants found guilty at the Crown Court
59
           
60
           
60
           
59
           
58
           
63
           
69
           
75
           
83
           
83
           
73
           
-11.2
of which Indictable offences (4)
56
          
57
          
57
          
57
          
55
          
60
          
66
          
71
          
79
          
78
          
70
          
-10.6
Total offenders found guilty at both courts
1,392
     
1,461
      
1,565
      
1,498
      
1,436
      
1,415
      
1,373
      
1,400
      
1,375
      
1,319
      
1,229
    
-6.8
of which Indictable offences (4)
335
        
336
        
323
        
307
        
307
        
308
        
315
        
328
        
345
        
344
        
312
        
-9.5
Total offenders found guilty or cautioned(3)
1,617
      
1,695
      
1,819
      
1,782
      
1,775
      
1,782
      
1,711
      
1,702
      
1,626
      
1,554
      
1,435
      
-7.7
of which Indictable offences (4)
476
        
484
        
479
        
482
        
508
        
517
        
503
        
493
        
483
        
471
        
420
        
-10.8
Total sentenced
1,390
      
1,459
      
1,564
      
1,496
      
1,435
      
1,414
      
1,372
      
1,399
      
1,373
      
1,318
     
1,228
      
-6.8
Magistrates' court
1,315
     
1,383
     
1,488
     
1,420
     
1,358
     
1,335
     
1,285
     
1,306
     
1,273
     
1,215
     
1,134
     
-6.7
Crown Court
75
          
76
          
76
          
76
          
76
          
79
          
87
          
93
          
101
        
103
        
94
          
-8.7
Sentence
 Custody 
111
        
108
        
107
        
103
        
98
          
93
          
100
        
100
        
100
        
102
        
97
          
-4.7
 Suspended Sentence
3
            
3
            
3
            
6
            
29
          
39
          
42
          
44
          
47
          
49
          
44
          
-8.8
 Community Sentence
179
        
192
        
199
        
203
        
195
        
194
        
191
        
198
        
189
        
179
        
154
        
-14.0
 Fine
952
        
1,004
     
1,099
     
1,041
     
973
        
948
        
896
        
936
        
906
        
862
        
817
        
-5.2
 Other Sentences
145
        
152
        
157
        
143
        
140
        
140
        
145
        
120
        
131
        
127
        
116
        
-8.7
(2) 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
(4) Indictable offences include those triable-either-way.
(3) 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 September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012
12 months ending
Percent change, 
12 months ending 
Sept 2011 to 12 
months ending 
Sept 2012
(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.
 
16

 
17
England and Wales
Offence Group
12 months ending
Cannabis 
warnings(P)
Penalty Notices 
for Disorder(1) 
Cautions
Proceedings Convictions
Conviction 
Ratio (%)(2)
Proven 
Offenders(3)
Sentenced(4)
Discharged 
Fine 
Community 
Sentence 
Suspended 
Sentence 
Otherwise 
dealt with
Custody  
Custody 
Rate (%)(5)
Average 
custodial 
sentence 
length 
(months)(6)
Violence against the person
Sept 2011
-
-
17,836
62,109
43,457
70.0
61,293
43,238
1,845
2,229
14,898
8,714
1,432
14,120
32.7
17.9
Sept 2012
-
-
13,466
51,163
37,435
73.2
50,901
37,245
1,613
2,231
11,223
7,342
1,047
13,789
37.0
20.1
Sexual offences
Sept 2011
-
-
1,498
10,045
6,049
60.2
7,547
6,044
104
119
1,709
502
147
3,463
57.3
53.1
Sept 2012
-
-
1,422
9,189
5,726
62.3
7,148
5,720
108
98
1,482
494
120
3,418
59.8
54.2
Burglary
Sept 2011
-
-
3,383
32,943
25,004
75.9
28,387
24,729
542
389
8,910
2,765
549
11,574
46.8
18.9
Sept 2012
-
-
2,726
29,895
23,077
77.2
25,803
22,879
384
277
7,387
2,592
490
11,749
51.4
19.1
Robbery
Sept 2011
-
-
268
14,402
9,063
62.9
9,331
9,065
13
2
2,853
519
299
5,379
59.3
35.7
Sept 2012
-
-
184
12,715
8,665
68.1
8,849
8,676
14
1
2,698
547
210
5,206
60.0
35.6
Theft and handling stolen goods
Sept 2011
-
35,639
44,278
135,400
121,316
89.6
201,233
121,043
24,846
17,028
42,258
8,469
5,894
22,548
18.6
4.2
Sept 2012
-
29,187
36,170
125,329
112,512
89.8
177,869
112,028
23,400
16,212
36,905
8,197
5,502
21,812
19.5
4.3
Fraud and forgery
Sept 2011
-
-
5,642
23,410
19,870
84.9
25,512
19,812
2,241
2,685
6,591
3,522
378
4,395
22.2
12.3
Sept 2012
-
-
5,091
20,092
16,737
83.3
21,828
16,595
1,758
2,179
5,165
3,198
354
3,941
23.8
13.0
Criminal damage
Sept 2011
-
-
4,813
9,154
7,219
78.9
12,032
7,160
1,400
800
2,879
457
512
1,112
15.5
19.0
Sept 2012
-
-
4,067
7,811
6,230
79.8
10,297
6,145
1,239
701
2,366
358
455
1,026
16.7
21.9
Drug offences
Sept 2011
79,167
15,704
42,263
67,070
61,524
91.7
198,658
61,102
8,897
23,458
12,893
4,077
2,158
9,619
15.7
30.7
Sept 2012
71,553
15,750
40,148
62,685
57,631
91.9
185,082
57,151
8,826
21,175
11,611
4,224
2,196
9,119
16.0
29.6
Indictable motoring offences
Sept 2011
-
-
-
3,592
3,184
88.6
3,184
3,192
39
250
901
862
32
1,108
34.7
9.6
Sept 2012
-
-
-
3,303
3,011
91.2
3,011
3,037
33
231
757
857
34
1,125
37.0
9.8
Other indictable offences
Sept 2011
-
-
6,544
64,945
47,664
73.4
54,208
47,424
3,563
12,340
8,665
4,954
6,757
11,145
23.9
10.1
Sept 2012
-
-
5,165
54,867
40,579
74.0
45,744
40,757
3,028
10,943
6,432
4,077
6,339
9,938
24.8
11.0
Indictable offences(7)
Sept 2011
79,167
51,343
126,525
423,070
344,350
81.4
601,385
342,809
43,490
59,300
102,557
34,841
18,158
84,463
24.7
16.8
Sept 2012
71,553
44,937
108,439
377,049
311,603
82.6
536,532
310,233
40,403
54,048
86,026
31,886
16,747
81,123
26.2
17.4
Summary non-motoring
Sept 2011
-
78,927
108,479
599,857
489,580
81.6
676,986
489,905
44,922
348,312
61,558
9,580
11,027
14,506
3.0
2.5
Sept 2012
-
64,699
97,229
578,168
470,204
81.3
632,132
470,463
41,686
342,844
54,698
8,699
9,122
13,414
2.9
2.6
Summary motoring offences
Sept 2011
-
-
-
560,446
485,229
86.6
485,229
485,366
6,505
454,119
14,730
4,213
2,478
3,321
0.7
3.1
Sept 2012
-
-
-
516,087
447,167
86.6
447,167
447,245
5,713
419,710
13,149
3,773
1,953
2,947
0.7
3.1
Summary Offences
Sept 2011
-
78,927
108,479
1,160,303
974,809
84.0
1,162,215
975,271
51,427
802,431
76,288
13,793
13,505
17,827
1.8
2.6
Sept 2012
-
64,699
97,229
1,094,255
917,371
83.8
1,079,299
917,708
47,399
762,554
67,847
12,472
11,075
16,361
1.8
2.7
All Offences
Sept 2011
79,167
130,270
235,004
1,583,373
1,319,159
83.3
1,763,600
1,318,080
94,917
861,731
178,845
48,634
31,663
102,290
7.8
14.3
Sept 2012
71,553
109,636
205,668
1,471,304
1,228,974
83.5
1,615,831
1,227,941
87,802
816,602
153,873
44,358
27,822
97,484
8.0
14.9
(1) Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to offenders aged 16 and over.
(2) Conviction ratio is calculated as the number of convictions as a proportion of the number of proceedings.
(3) Defendants who have been proven to have committed an offence (includes convictions, cautions, cannabis warnings and Penalty Notices for Disorder).
(4) Figures are based on defendants sentenced each year. Some of those sentenced may have been found guilty in a previous year so the number of offenders sentenced may exceed the number of guilty defendants.
(5) Custody rate is calculated as the proportion of the total number of persons sentenced who are sentenced to immediate custody.
(6) Average custodial sentence length excludes life and indeterminate sentences.
(7) Indictable offences include those triable-either-way.
(P) Provisional
Note: Figures for cannabis warnings appearing in this publication are provisional and may be revised following Home Office validation. Finalised National Statistics will be published by the Home Office in July 2013 by financial year.
Table Q1.6 - “Proven Offenders” in the criminal justice system by offence group and outcomes, 12 months ending September 2011 and 12 months ending September 2012  

Out of court disposals  
 
Penalty Notices for Disorder 
 
Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) are more commonly known as ‘on the spot 
fines’. PNDs are a fixed penalty of £50 or £80 designed to tackle low-level, anti-social 
and nuisance offending for offenders aged 16 or over and are issued for a range of 
minor offences.  
 
There were 109,600 PNDs issued for the 12 months ending September 2012, a 
decrease of 15.8 per cent compared with the 12 months ending September 2011 and 
a fall of 48.9 per cent when compared with the peak of 214,400 PNDs issued in the 
12 months ending September 2007. 
 
Four offences accounted for 88.9 per cent of all PNDs issued in the 12 months 
ending September 2012, namely:  
 
 
‘Drunk and disorderly’ – 30.7 per cent (33,600); 
 
 
‘Retail theft of goods’ – 26.6 per cent of all PNDs issued (29,200); 
 
 
‘Behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress’ –17.2 per cent (18,900) 
  
 
‘Possession of cannabis’ - 14.4 per cent (15,800) of all PNDs issued. 
 
There has been a year-on-year decrease in PNDs since their peak in the 12 months 
ending September 2007. This decreasing trend has been observed in all offence 
groups except possession of cannabis, which has increased year-on-year since 
coming into effect in 2009. However, the decrease in cannabis warnings over the 
same period suggests that the use of out of court disposals for those in possession of 
cannabis has remained constant, but with an increased usage of PNDs rather than 
cannabis warnings. 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, 105,200 (95.9 per cent) of PNDs were 
issued to persons aged 18 and over (adults), with 4,500 (4.1 per cent) issued to 
persons aged 16 to 17. The proportion of PNDs issued to adults has increased year 
on year since 2007, due to larger decreases in issues of PNDs for the main offence 
categories listed above for persons aged 16 to 17 than for adults. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18

Figure 2.1 – Penalty Notices for Disorder issued, 12 months ending September 
2005 to 12 months ending September 2012 
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
12 months ending September
Penalty Notices for Disorder issued
Theft (retail under £200)
Drunk and disorderly
Causing Harassment, alarm or distress
Possession of Cannabis
Other
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, 83,700 (76.4 per cent) of PNDs were 
issued to males and 25,900 (23.6 per cent) to females.  The four most common 
offences committed by males were: 
 
 
‘Drunk and disorderly’ – 27,900 (33.3 per cent); 
 
 
‘Behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress’ – 16,200 (19.3 per 
cent); 
 
 
‘Retail theft of goods’ – 15,500 (18.5 per cent) and  
 
 
‘Possession of cannabis’ – 14,900 (17.7 per cent).  
 
The four most common offences committed by females were:  
 
 
‘Retail theft of goods’ – 13,700 (53.0 per cent); 
 
 
‘Drunk and disorderly’ – 5,800 (22.3 per cent); 
 
 
‘Behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress’ – 2,700 (10.6 per 
cent); and  
 
 
‘Wasting police time’ – 1,000 (3.8 per cent). 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, 76,100 (69.4 per cent) of PNDs were 
issued to white people, 2,000 (1.9 per cent) to black people, 5,500 (5.0 per cent) to 
Asian people, and 5,200 (4.7 per cent) to ‘other’ ethnicities. The remaining 20,900 
(19.0 per cent) had ethnicity unknown. This split has remained fairly constant over 
the years for the high volume offences. 
 
 
19

There were fewer PNDs issued in 38 of the 44 police force areas (including British 
Transport Police) in England and Wales compared with the 12 months ending 
September 2011. 
 
The largest absolute decrease was in the Metropolitan Police Force area, where 
14,300 PNDs were issued, a fall of 3,020 (17.4 per cent) since the 12 months ending 
September 2011. The largest proportionate decrease was in Greater Manchester, 
where 31.3 per cent fewer PNDs were issued, a fall from 6,048 to 4,155. The police 
force area with the largest absolute increase was West Yorkshire, where 3,514 PNDs 
were issued, an increase of 1,024 (41.1 per cent) since the 12 months ending 
September 2011. 
 
Penalty Notices for Disorder payments, court hearings and related fines 
 
Once a PND has been issued the recipient has 21 days, the Suspended 
Enforcement Period (SEP), in which to either pay the penalty or request a court 
hearing. No admission of guilt is required and by paying the penalty the recipient 
discharges liability for conviction for the offence. Rather than paying the penalty, 
PND recipients can request a court hearing. If a recipient fails to pay a PND or elect 
a court hearing within the SEP, a fine of one and half times the penalty amount is 
registered by the court.  
During the 12 months ending September 2012, a number of forces have moved to a 
new system for reporting data on PNDs issued and their outcomes. Due to technical 
problems, for these forces, it is not possible to separate between those PNDs paid in 
full within 21 days and those paid in full outside the 21 day period. The issue is under 
investigation and is expected to be resolved ahead of the 2012 annual publication. 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, 38.8 per cent of PNDs were paid in full 
within the SEP, 11.7 per cent were paid in full outside the SEP, and a further 2.8 per 
cent were paid before a fine was registered but with the payment timing unknown. 
The payment rate for PNDs has fluctuated only slightly since their introduction in 
2004, between the 52 and 55 per cent marks. 
 
The payment rate for juveniles (aged 16 and 17) in the 12 months ending September 
2012 was 54.9 per cent, compared to 53.2 per cent for adults. The payment rate for 
juveniles has remained consistently higher than for adults since the start of the 
scheme. 
 
Around one per cent of penalty notices have been contested at court in each year 
since PNDs were introduced. This figure is consistent among all age groups and 
offences. 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, of the total number of PNDs issued, 36.9 
per cent were registered with a fine (37.1 per cent for adults and 31.5 per cent for 
juveniles). The number and proportion of PNDs for which a fine was registered has 
declined year-on-year since 2007, from 92,900 (43.3 per cent of total issued) in the 
12 months ending September 2007 to 40,400 (36.9 per cent of total issued) in the 12 
months ending September 2012. 
 
 
 
20

 
 
Table 2.1 - Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to offenders aged 16 and over, by offence, 12 months ending September 2005 to 12 months ending September 2012
England and Wales
Sep 2005
Sep 2006
Sep 2007
Sep 2008
Sep 2009
Sep 2010
Sep 2011
Sep 2012
Sep 2005
Sep 2006
Sep 2007
Sep 2008
Sep 2009
Sep 2010
Sep 2011
Sep 2012
Higher Tier Offences (£80)
Wasting police time
2,279
3,529
4,170
3,600
3,126
2,911
2,853
2,536
160
362
338
278
212
173
143
108
Misuse of public telecommunications system
350
742
1,201
974
798
667
749
692
22
51
114
93
59
48
52
36
Giving false alarm to fire and rescue authority
92
93
101
77
88
52
50
39
10
16
16
6
9
5
6
-
Causing Harassment, alarm or distress
59,245
77,615
82,486
62,682
46,865
34,370
27,291
18,896
5,206
7,565
7,746
5,251
3,540
2,351
1,619
961
Throwing fireworks(1)
467
649
633
612
443
320
361
286
56
87
99
96
76
49
56
45
Drunk and disorderly(2)
35,166
42,748
46,829
45,297
44,367
38,163
35,996
33,637
2,206
2,878
3,084
2,671
2,318
1,828
1,408
995
Criminal Damage (under £500)(3)
9,751
18,622
21,341
14,692
11,161
6,723
5,275
3,781
1,096
2,508
3,015
2,012
1,399
689
521
286
Theft (retail under £200)(3)
17,051
34,092
45,829
44,093
49,903
41,484
35,639
29,187
1,328
3,202
4,811
3,876
4,197
2,854
2,115
1,417
Breach of fireworks curfew(4)
23
48
40
33
25
17
15
12
3
2
7
2
3
1
1
2
Possession of category 4 firework(4)
19
14
28
20
63
20
18
19
4
3
5
4
7
-
4
3
Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework(4)
24
49
81
106
65
64
51
45
19
46
75
99
61
50
44
37
Sale of alcohol to drunken person(5)
18
48
59
84
81
78
71
92
2
-
2
1
2
1
-
1
Supply of alcohol to a person under 18
*
42
54
74
112
70
44
48
*
3
3
1
4
2
1
1
Sale of alcohol to a person under 18(3)
977
3,419
3,768
2,874
3,047
2,220
1,691
1,316
40
119
70
56
42
33
19
14
Purchasing alcohol for a person under 18(3)
154
358
550
536
441
374
260
173
19
42
52
38
20
20
12
10
Purchasing alcohol for a  person under 18 for consumption on the premises
65
70
59
55
46
34
30
23
17
20
9
13
17
3
8
5
Delivery of alcohol to a person under 18 or allowing such delivery(3)
163
278
430
334
195
131
105
66
18
19
37
28
8
14
5
1
Possession of Cannabis (6)(7)
*
*
*
*
8,267
13,620
15,704
15,750
*
*
*
*
110
159
258
355
Lower Tier Offences (£50)
Trespassing on a railway
168
846
1,515
1,469
1,543
1,444
1,370
1,071
49
224
299
254
244
217
140
92
Throwing stones at a train / railway
40
16
20
27
26
10
9
9
4
5
8
8
10
7
1
1
Drunk in a highway
3,226
2,867
2,238
1,624
1,066
828
680
516
85
142
125
80
30
12
20
18
Consumption of alcohol in a designated public place
648
996
1,380
1,812
1,712
1,089
1,217
664
40
114
185
120
113
36
55
3
Depositing and leaving litter(3)
563
1,115
1,341
1,261
1,172
934
739
625
145
242
297
268
189
127
81
54
Consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises(3)
45
98
90
51
27
9
21
17
39
87
89
46
19
7
15
14
Allowing consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises(3)
25
16
15
8
4
1
4
-
3
-
-
3
-
-
-
-
Buying or Attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18(5)
7
65
145
124
77
53
27
21
4
54
144
113
68
45
23
15
Depositing and leaving litter in a Royal Park (8)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
1
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
-
Use pedal cycle in a Royal Park (8)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
114
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
-
Failing to remove animal faeces from a Royal Park (8)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
-
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
-
Totals
Total Higher Tier Offences
125,844
182,416
207,659
176,143
169,093
141,318
126,203
106,598
10,206
16,923
19,483
14,525
12,084
8,280
6,272
4,277
Total Lower Tier Offences
4,722
6,019
6,744
6,376
5,627
4,368
4,067
3,038
369
868
1,147
892
673
451
335
197
Total all offences
130,566
188,435
214,403
182,519
174,720
145,686
130,270
109,636
10,575
17,791
20,630
15,417
12,757
8,731
6,607
4,474
(1) Offence moved from the lower tier (£50) to the upper tier (£80) on 5th March 2004.
(2) Offence moved from the lower tier (£50) to the upper tier (£80) on 1st November 2004.
(3) Offence added with effect from 1 November 2004. Penalty notices are no longer available for theft of goods valued at over £100 and may only be used for criminal damage up to a value of £300 from July 2009 onwards.
(4) Offence added with effect from 11 October 2004.
(5) Offence added with effect from 04 April 2005.
(6) Offence added with effect from 27 January 2009.
(8) Offence added with effect from 30 June 2012.
Aged 16 -17
(7) Revised statutory guidance on PNDs published in July 2009 limited the use of PNDs for cannabis possession to offenders aged 18 and over. Since this time a number of forces issued penalty notices for disorder for 
possession of cannabis to under 18’s. Forces have been made aware that these penalty notices are restricted to adults and are reviewing the situation.
Offence
All ages
12 months ending
12 months ending
 
21

 
 
Table 2.2 - Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to offenders aged 16 and over, by ethnicity, 12 months ending September 2012
England and Wales
Offence
Higher Tier Offences (£80)
Wasting police time
1,679
41
130
251
435
2,536
Misuse of public telecommunications system
528
3
15
19
127
692
Giving false alarm to fire and rescue authority
25
2
4
-
8
39
Causing Harassment, alarm or distress
12,880
319
1,003
850
3,844
18,896
Throwing fireworks(1)
183
6
22
22
53
286
Drunk and disorderly(2)
25,388
316
772
632
6,529
33,637
Criminal Damage (under £500)(3)
2,865
46
121
105
644
3,781
Theft (retail under £200)(3)
20,235
830
1,480
1,252
5,390
29,187
Breach of fireworks curfew(4)
8
-
-
-
4
12
Possession of category 4 firework(4)
11
1
1
-
6
19
Possession by a person under 18 of adult firework(4)
19
1
8
3
14
45
Sale of alcohol to drunken person(5)
50
3
10
13
16
92
Supply of alcohol to a person under 18
28
-
3
2
15
48
Sale of alcohol to a person under 18(3)
699
27
105
255
230
1,316
Purchasing alcohol for a person under 18(3)
145
-
1
2
25
173
Purchasing alcohol for a  person under 18 for consumption on the premises
19
-
-
-
4
23
Delivery of alcohol to a person under 18 or allowing such delivery(3)
42
-
-
3
21
66
Possession of Cannabis(6)
9,218
336
1,672
1,633
2,891
15,750
Lower Tier Offences (£50)
Trespassing on a railway
725
38
33
17
258
1,071
Throwing stones at a train / railway
7
-
-
-
2
9
Drunk in a highway
366
10
13
13
114
516
Consumption of alcohol in a designated public place
464
38
25
34
103
664
Depositing and leaving litter(3)
427
23
27
43
105
625
Consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises(3)
13
-
-
-
4
17
Allowing consumption of alcohol by a person under 18 on relevant premises(3)
-
-
-
-
-
-
Buying or Attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18(5)
17
-
-
-
4
21
Depositing and leaving litter in a Royal Park (7)
1
-
-
-
-
1
Use pedal cycle in a Royal Park (7)
84
9
7
3
11
114
Failing to remove animal faeces from a Royal Park (7)
-
-
-
-
-
-
Totals
Total Higher Tier Offences
74,022
1,931
5,347
5,042
20,256
106,598
Total Lower Tier Offences
2,104
118
105
110
601
3,038
Total all offences
76,126
2,049
5,452
5,152
20,857
109,636
(1) Offence moved from the lower tier (£50) to the upper tier (£80) on 5th March 2004.
(2) Offence moved from the lower tier (£50) to the upper tier (£80) on 1st November 2004.
(4) Offence added with effect from 11 October 2004.
(5) Offence added with effect from 04 April 2005.
(6) Offence added with effect from 27 January 2009.
(7) Offence added with effect from 30 June 2012.
(3) Offence added with effect from 1 November 2004. Penalty notices are no longer available for theft of goods valued at over £100 and may only be used for criminal damage up to a 
value of £300 from July 2009 onwards.
Not Recorded/
Not Known
Other
Asian
Black
White
Total
 
 
 
 
 
22

Cautions 
 
A caution can be administered when there is sufficient evidence for a conviction and 
it is not considered to be in the public interest to institute criminal proceedings. 
Additionally, an offender must admit guilt and consent to a caution in order for one to 
be administered. A formal caution may be given by, or on the instructions of, a senior 
police officer. Cautions have traditionally been mostly used for juvenile and first time 
offenders. A system of reprimands and final warnings replaced cautioning for 
juveniles in June 2000.  
 
There were 206,000 cautions issued in the 12 months ending September 2012, 12.5 
per cent fewer than in the 12 months ending September 2011, continuing a 
downward trend in the use of cautions since a peak in the 12 months ending 
September 2007.  This coincided with the replacement in April 2008 of a target to 
increase offences brought to justice, with one placing more emphasis on bringing 
serious crime to justice.  
 
Compared with the 12 months ending September 2011 there were decreases in 
cautions given for both indictable (14.3 per cent decrease) and summary offence 
types (10.4 per cent decrease).    
 
Figure 2.2 – Offenders cautioned by offence type, 12 months ending September 
2002 to 12 months ending September 2012 
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
12 months ending September
Cautions (thousands)
Summary offences
Indictable offences
 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012 there were 206,000 offenders cautioned, 
including juveniles given a reprimand or final warning.   
 
 
This was 12.5 per cent fewer than the 235,000 cautions issued in the 12 
months ending September 2011, and 44.0 per cent fewer than the peak of 
367,000 cautions issued in the 12 months ending September 2007. 
 
 
23

 
The largest decrease compared with the 12 months ending September 2011 
was in cautions issued for the indictable offence robbery which decreased by 
31.3. 
 
 
Around four in every five cautions issued for indictable offences are for 
violence against the person, theft and handling or drug offences. Of the 
108,000 cautions issued for indictable offences in the 12 months ending 
September 2012, 37.0 per cent were for drug offences, 33.4 per cent for theft 
and handling and 12.4 per cent for violence against the person. 
  
The cautioning rate3 for the 12 months ending September 2012 was 20.9 per cent, 
this has declined from a peak of 31.6 per cent in the 12 months ending September 
2007.  This coincided with the replacement in April 2008 of a target to increase 
offences brought to justice with one placing more of an emphasis on targeting 
serious crime. 
 
The cautioning rate varies across offence group and is typically higher for indictable 
offences than summary offences.     
 
Within indictable offences, the cautioning rate is highest for drug offences (41.1 per 
cent), criminal damage (39.5 per cent) and violence against the person (26.5 per 
cent), and is lowest for robbery (2.1 per cent).  
 
The cautioning rate for violence against the person in the 12 months ending 
September 2012 is the lowest in the eleven year period, at 26.5 per cent.  There 
have been steady annual decreases from a peak of 57.7 per cent of offenders 
receiving a caution in the 12 months ending September 2006.  
 
                                                
3 The proportion of offenders either cautioned or convicted that are given a caution. 
 
24

 
 
 
Table Q2.3  -  Offenders cautioned by type of offence, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012(1)
England and Wales 
     Number of offenders (thousands)
Type of offence
September 
2002
September 
2003
September 
2004
September 
2005
September 
2006
September 
2007
September 
2008
September 
2009
September 
2010
September 
2011
September 
2012
All offenders
Indictable offences
Violence against the person
21.9
27.6
34.4
46.8
57.2
54.4
42.7
28.7
22.6
17.8
13.5
Sexual offences
1.2
1.3
1.5
1.7
1.9
2.0
1.7
1.5
1.4
1.5
1.4
Burglary
5.8
5.6
5.5
6.3
7.4
7.4
5.8
4.6
3.6
3.4
2.7
Robbery
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.6
0.7
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.2
Theft and handling stolen goods
56.5
53.1
59.9
66.0
71.0
75.5
65.0
63.0
50.0
44.3
36.2
Fraud and forgery
5.3
5.5
5.9
6.7
7.9
8.6
8.3
7.4
6.5
5.6
5.1
Criminal damage
3.1
3.4
5.1
6.6
8.8
9.0
8.1
6.7
5.3
4.8
4.1
Drug offences
43.1
45.4
36.7
33.3
37.0
41.3
46.4
45.1
41.3
42.3
40.1
Other (excluding motoring offences)
4.4
5.0
5.9
6.5
8.9
10.2
9.1
8.2
7.1
6.5
5.2
Total (excluding motoring offences) 
141.8
147.2
155.3
174.4
200.7
209.1
187.6
165.4
137.8
126.5
108.4
Summary offences
   (excluding motoring offences)
83.2
87.5
98.9
109.9
138.7
158.2
150.0
136.3
112.8
108.5
97.2
All offences
   (excluding motoring offences)
225.0
234.7
254.3
284.3
339.4
367.3
337.6
301.7
250.6
235.0
205.7
(1) All cautions data from 2011 have been sourced from the Police National Computer.
12 months ending
 
 
25

 
 
England and Wales 
Percentages
Type of offence
September 
2002
September 
2003
September 
2004
September 
2005
September 
2006
September 
2007
September 
2008
September 
2009
September 
2010
September 
2011
September 
2012
All offenders
Indictable offences
Violence against the person
37.3
42.0
46.8
53.8
57.7
56.6
50.7
39.9
33.8
29.1
26.5
Sexual offences
21.4
23.5
24.2
26.3
27.7
28.1
25.3
23.7
19.5
19.8
19.9
Burglary
18.1
17.8
18.3
21.3
24.4
23.8
19.7
16.3
13.3
11.9
10.6
Robbery
5.8
5.5
5.4
7.6
8.4
7.0
4.8
2.4
2.4
2.9
2.1
Theft and handling stolen goods
30.6
30.5
34.8
38.7
41.3
42.3
37.4
35.7
29.7
26.7
24.3
Fraud and forgery
19.9
20.5
21.8
24.8
27.9
29.8
28.5
26.2
23.5
22.1
23.3
Criminal damage
22.2
23.5
30.3
36.5
41.2
41.5
44.1
45.3
40.4
40.0
39.5
Drug offences
47.6
46.9
46.4
46.5
47.9
49.6
47.7
44.7
40.2
40.7
41.1
Other (excluding motoring offences)
8.5
8.9
9.8
10.9
14.7
18.0
18.0
15.3
12.1
12.1
11.3
Total (excluding motoring offences)
30.1
30.8
32.8
36.6
39.9
40.8
37.6
33.8
28.8
27.1
26.0
Summary offences
   (excluding motoring offences)
15.1
15.3
15.7
17.7
21.8
24.4
23.4
21.0
18.5
18.1
17.1
All offences
   (excluding motoring offences)
22.0
22.3
23.1
25.9
29.8
31.6
29.6
26.5
23.0
22.1
20.9
(1) All cautions data from 2011 have been sourced from the Police National Computer.
Table Q2.4  -  Proportion of offenders cautioned who were cautioned or found guilty, by type of offence, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending 
September 2012(1)
12 months ending
 
26

 
 
 
 
     Number of offenders (thousands)
12 months ending
Total
White
Black
Asian
Other
Unknown
September 2002
225.0
192.2
14.1
10.2
2.4
6.1
September 2003
234.7
199.5
14.6
10.4
2.8
7.5
September 2004
254.3
214.3
15.0
11.8
3.0
10.2
September 2005
284.3
238.2
16.0
13.8
4.2
12.3
September 2006
339.4
277.6
20.8
14.9
4.9
21.2
September 2007
367.3
303.0
23.7
16.3
5.2
19.0
September 2008
337.6
278.3
22.6
16.0
5.1
15.6
September 2009
301.7
250.1
20.7
14.9
5.0
11.0
September 2010
250.6
208.1
17.6
13.0
4.6
7.2
September 2011
235.0
196.4
17.3
12.1
3.5
5.7
September 2012
205.7
172.6
14.5
10.4
2.8
5.3
(1) All cautions data from 2011 have been sourced from the Police National Computer.
Ethnicity
Table Q2.5  -  Persons cautioned for all offences by ethnicity, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months 
ending September 2012(1)
 
27

Court proceedings 
 
Virtually all criminal court cases start in a magistrates’ court and less serious 
offences can be handled entirely within this court.  
 
There were 1.47 million defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts in the 
12 months ending September 2012, a decrease of 7.1% from the 1.58 million 
proceedings in the 12 months ending September 2011. 
 
The total proceedings figure can be split into two offence groups – summary 
proceedings, which cover the less serious offences such as TV license evasion and 
common assault, and indictable proceedings (including triable-either-way offences), 
which cover the more serious offences. Compared to the previous 12 months 
proceedings for both offence groups decreased in the 12 months ending September 
2012 – a drop of 5.7 per cent for summary offences (from 1.16 million to 1.09 million) 
and a drop of 10.9 per cent for indictable offences (from 423,100 to 377,000).  
 
Figure 3.1: Defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts by type of 
offence, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending September 
2012 
 
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
2,000
2,200
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
12 months ending September
Prosecutions (thousands)
Summary motoring
Summary non-motoring
Indictable
 
 
Summary proceedings can be dealt with entirely within the magistrates’ courts and 
make up around three quarters of all proceedings (74.4 per cent). Of the 1.09 million 
summary proceedings completed in the 12 months ending September 2012, just 
under half (516,100, or 47.2 per cent) of these proceedings related to summary 
motoring proceedings, which include offences such as speeding, driving while 
disqualified and drunk driving. 
 
The 5.7 per cent drop in proceedings for summary offences between the 12 months 
ending September 2011 and 2012 is not split evenly between summary motoring and 
summary non-motoring proceedings: 
 
 
28

 
Defendants proceeded against for summary motoring offences fell by 7.9 per cent 
from 560,400 to 516,100.  
 
 
Defendants proceeded against for summary non-motoring offences fell by 3.6 per 
cent from 599,900 to 578,200.  
 
Over the past decade, defendants proceeded against peaked at 2.06 million in the 12 
months ending September 2004. Compared to this peak there were 28.6 per cent 
fewer defendants proceeded against in the 12 months ending September 2012. This 
was made up of a 20.0 per cent decrease in those proceeded against for indictable 
offences, a 14.6 per cent decrease in those proceeded against for summary non-
motoring offences, and a decrease of 43.4 per cent decrease in those proceeded 
against for summary motoring offences.  
 
The falling numbers in those proceeded against is reflected in all offence types over 
the past decade with the exceptions of sexual offences and drug offences that have 
seen increases. The largest decreases for indictable offences has been criminal 
damage, representing a 58.3 per cent decrease from 18,700 in the 12 months ending 
September 2002 to 7,800 in the 12 months ending September 2012. For summary 
offences, motoring offences have decreased by 33 per cent from 778,600 in the 12 
months ending September 2002 to 516,100 in the 12 months ending September 
2012.  
 
Of the 1.47 million defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts in the 12 
months ending September 2012, 1.06 million were male. The number of males 
proceeded against has continued to fall from a peak in the 12 months ending 2004 of 
1.69 million, representing a decrease of 37.3 per cent. However the number of 
female defendants proceeded against has been variable from a low of 322,500 in the 
12 months ending September 2002 to a peak of 367,100 in the 12 months ending 
September 2010. This has led to a fall in the proportion of male defendants 
proceeded against compared to females from a peak of 82.3 per cent in the 12 
months ending September 2003 to 71.9 per cent in the 12 months ending 2012.  
 
Remands 
 
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. 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.  
 
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.  
 
Police remands 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 1.54 million defendants 
directed to appear at magistrates’ courts4, a decrease of 7.6 per cent compared with 
the 1.66 million in the 12 months ending September 2011. Of these, 30.6 per cent 
were granted bail by the police, 11.5 per cent were remanded in custody and the 
remaining 57.9 per cent directed to appear via summonses.  
                                                
4 Including here those who failed to appear. 
 
29

 
The proportion of defendants remanded in custody has increased every year since 
the 12 months ending September 2007, driven mainly by the rise in defendants 
remanded in custody for indictable offences.  
 
The proportion of those remanded in custody varies by offence type: 
 
 
28.9 per cent (120,400) for indictable offences in the 12 months ending 
September 2012, 0.6 percentage points higher than in the 12 months ending 
September 2011 and 12.9 percentage points higher than in the 12 months 
ending September 2007; 
 
 
7.4 per cent (43,700) for summary non-motoring offences in the 12 months 
ending September 2012, 0.1 percentage points lower than in the 12 months 
ending September 2011 and; 
 
 
2.2 per cent (11,700) for summary motoring offences, 0.7 percentage points 
higher than in the 12 months ending September 2011.  
 
Magistrates’ courts 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, 1.54 million defendants, including those 
who failed to appear, were proceeded against at magistrates’ courts. Of these it was 
estimated5 that: 
 
 
bail was granted to 27.4 per cent, 6.0 percentage points lower than in the 12 
months ending September 2011. This decrease in the proportion granted bail is a 
reversal of the upward trend seen in previous years; 
 
 
3.2 per cent were remanded in custody, 0.1 per cent lower than in the 12 months 
ending September 2011; and 
 
 
the remaining 69.3 per cent had their case concluded at the magistrates’ courts 
without being remanded, 6.0 percentage points higher than in the 12 months 
ending September 2011.  
 
The proportion of defendants remanded in custody at magistrates’ courts has 
remained broadly consistent between 2.7 and 3.8 per cent since the 12 months 
ending September 2005. 
 
The proportion of defendants remanded in custody by magistrates’ courts by offence 
type in the 12 months ending September 2012 was 9.0 per cent (37,700) for 
indictable cases, 1.7 per cent (10,100) for summary non-motoring offences and 0.4 
per cent (2,100) for summary motoring offences. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
5 Remand figures are estimated through a matching process with prisons remand reception data – see 
the ‘Remands’ section of technical document “A Guide to Criminal Justice Statistics” for more details. 
 
30

Outcomes of cases dealt with by magistrates’ courts 
 
Of the 1.06 million defendants not remanded by magistrates in the 12 months ending 
September 2012: 
 
 
a custodial sentence was given to 2.3 per cent (24,300);  
 
 
3.5 per cent (37,500) were committed to the Crown Court for sentence or trial; 
 
 
those acquitted or not proceeded against accounted for 13.8 per cent (146,700); 
 
 
a further 77.6 per cent (826,400) were given a non-custodial sentence.  
 
Of the 420,800 defendants remanded on bail: 
 
 
a custodial sentence was given to 3.0 per cent (12,400); 
 
 
11.8 per cent (49,800) were committed to the Crown Court for sentence or trial; 
 
 
18.2 per cent (76,400) were acquitted or not proceeded against; 
 
 
a further 59.5 per cent (250,100) were given a non-custodial sentence. 
 
Of the 49,900 defendants remanded in custody: 
 
 
a custodial sentence was given to 15.3 per cent (7,600); 
 
 
a further 26.2 per cent (13,000) were given a non-custodial sentence; 
 
 
41.1 per cent (20,500) were committed to the Crown Court for sentence or trial; 
 
 
those acquitted or not proceeded against accounted for 12.7 per cent (6,300). 
 
 
Crown court remands 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, the proportion of defendants tried at the 
Crown Court who were remanded on bail was 48.8 per cent. This represented a 
decrease of 2.5 percentage points from the 12 months ending September 2011 (51.3 
per cent). Between the 12 months ending September 2011 and the 12 months 
ending September 2012, the proportion of defendants remanded in custody 
decreased by 0.2 percentage points from 34.4 per cent to 34.2 per cent. 
 
Outcomes of cases dealt with at the Crown Court  
 
Of the 39,000 defendants remanded in custody by the Crown Court in the 12 months 
ending September 2012: 
 
 
a sentence was given to 86.5 per cent – 74.1 per cent of those remanded in 
custody received a custodial sentence (28,900); 
 
 
those acquitted or not proceeded against accounted for 11.9 per cent (4,700). 
 
 
31

Of the 55,800 defendants remanded on bail by the Crown Court in the 12 months 
ending September 2012: 
 
 
a sentence was given to 73.5 per cent – of  which 25.3 per cent received a 
custodial sentence (14,100); 
 
 
those acquitted or not proceeded against accounted for 24.0 per cent (13,400)  
 
Failure to appear 
 
Each year a proportion of defendants fail to appear in court having been summonsed 
to appear or granted bail. The court will issue the police with a warrant for the 
apprehension and detention of these defendants. 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, approximately 63,800 defendants failed to 
appear to bail or summons at magistrates’ courts; 4.2 per cent of those directed to 
appear in that period. In the 12 months ending September 2012, approximately 2,400 
defendants failed to appear to bail at the Crown Court, 2.1 per cent of all defendants 
due to stand trial or to be sentenced at the Crown Court in the same period. 
 
Failure to Appear warrants (outstanding) 
 
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. Police forces attempt to execute warrants by locating and 
apprehending the defendant. These may relate to defendants who failed to appear at 
court during a different period.  
 
The overall number of FTA warrants outstanding6 in England and Wales has been 
steadily decreasing, from 25,300 at the end of September 2008 to 16,800 at the end 
of September 2012, a 33.3 per cent fall. 
 
The largest fall in FTA warrants was observed for Category7 C warrants which 
decreased by 54.0 per cent, from just over 8,000 at the end of September 2008 to 
3,700 at the end of September 2012. The corresponding decreases for the number of 
outstanding Category A and Category B warrants were 13.2 per cent and 26.9 per 
cent respectively over the same time period. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
6 Outstanding FTA warrants are those that have been issued by the local area but have not been 
executed or withdrawn – see 'A Guide to Criminal Justice Statistics' for further information. 
 
7 FTA warrants are categorised as A, B or C depending on the seriousness of the offence for which the 
defendant is wanted and the risk to the public – see 'A Guide to Criminal Justice Statistics' for further 
information. 
 
 
32

Figure 3.2: Number of FTA warrants outstanding, by Category, England & 
Wales, end of September 2008 to end of September 2012 
 
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
12 months ending September
Warrants outstanding
Category A
Category B
Category C
 
 
33

 
England and Wales
Defendants (thousands and percentages)
How directed to appear
2005(2)
2006(2)
2007(2) 2008(2) (3)
2009
2010
2011
2012
2005
2006
2007
2008(3)
2009
2010
2011
2012
Indictable offences
  Summoned
47.7
48.9
47.8
43.9
39.6
39.4
41.3
47.6
9.5
10.1
10.1
9.6
8.5
8.2
8.8
11.4
  Arrested and bailed
362.6
347.5
349.1
328.4
304.3
304.9
294.6
248.4
72.5
71.9
73.9
71.7
65.5
63.8
62.9
59.6
  Arrested and held in custody(4)
90.0
87.2
75.6
85.5
120.4
133.8
132.3
120.4
18.0
18.0
16.0
18.7
25.9
28.0
28.3
28.9
  Total
500.3
483.6
472.4
457.7
464.2
478.1
468.2
416.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Summary offences (other than motoring)
  Summoned
441.7
411.2
393.1
380.3
404.0
390.5
393.2
395.1
65.9
63.8
62.3
61.9
63.6
62.1
63.8
66.7
  Arrested and bailed
202.2
206.0
213.0
206.1
190.1
190.0
176.6
153.5
30.1
31.9
33.8
33.5
29.9
30.2
28.7
25.9
  Arrested and held in custody(4)
26.8
27.8
24.6
28.3
40.9
47.9
46.4
43.7
4.0
4.3
3.9
4.6
6.4
7.6
7.5
7.4
  Total
670.7
645.0
630.7
614.7
635.0
628.4
616.1
592.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Summary motoring offences
  Summoned
742.8
662.7
622.8
567.8
568.1
546.1
494.0
446.2
81.0
80.1
80.6
81.4
83.4
85.2
85.5
84.8
  Arrested and bailed
158.0
151.3
140.7
120.7
103.3
85.0
75.1
68.3
17.2
18.3
18.2
17.3
15.2
13.3
13.0
13.0
  Arrested and held in custody(4)
16.2
13.0
9.4
8.7
10.2
9.6
8.5
11.7
1.8
1.
2
All offences
  Summoned
1,232.1
1,122.8
1,063.7
992.0
1,011.7
975.9
928.4
889.0
59.0
57.4
56.7
56.1
56.8
55.9
55.9
57.9
  Arrested and bailed
722.8
704.8
702.7
655.2
597.6
580.0
546.3
470.2
34.6
36.0
37.5
37.0
33.6
33.2
32.9
30.6
  Arrested and held in custody(4)
132.9
128.0
109.5
122.5
171.4
191.3
187.2
175.8
6.4
6.5
5.8
6.9
9.6
10.9
11.
6
1.2
1.3
1.5
1.5
1.5
2.
  Total
917.0
827.0
772.9
697.2
681.5
640.7
577.6
526.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
3
11.5
  Total
2,087.7
1,955.7
1,875.8
1,769.8
1,780.7
1,747.3
1,661.9
1,535.0
100.
0
100.
0
100.
0
100.
0
100.0
100.
0
100.
0
100.
0
(4) Includes those remanded for part of the time in custody and part on bail.
Note: Some figures may not sum due to rounding.
(1) Total number of defendants proceeded against includes those who failed to appear to a summons, or to bail, who are excluded from the proceedings figures given in other chapters. Approximately 63,800 persons (4.2 
per cent of those directed to appear) failed to appear in the 12 months ending September 2012.
(2) Prior to 2008, estimates of remands by police and at magistrates’ courts presented in Q3.1 and Q3.2 will not reconcile. See the methodological section of ‘A guide to Criminal Justice Statistics” for further information.
(3) Excludes remands data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July, and August 2008. Data for 2008 have been revised and now include approximately 16,600 defendants who failed to appear which were omitted from 
previously published versions of this table. 
Table Q3.1 - Defendants(1) directed to appear at magistrates' courts by the police, by type of offence and how directed to appear, 12 months ending September 2005 to 12 months ending 
September 2012 (e)
(e) Magistrates' courts data are estimated.
Percentages
 Defendants (thousands)
12 months ending September
 
34

 
England and Wales
Defendants (thousands and percentages)
Type of offence
2005(2)
2006(2)
2007(2) 2008(2) (3)
2009
2010
2011
2012
2005
2006
2007
2008(3)
2009
2010
2011
2012
Indictable offences
  Not remanded
198.6
194.0
198.8
183.9
120.5
122.4
128.9
159.3
39.7
40.1
42.0
40.3
26.0
25.6
27.5
38.2
  Remanded on bail
258.0
248.2
236.9
225.8
293.7
301.5
293.6
219.5
51.6
51.4
50.1
49.4
63.3
63.1
62.7
52.7
  Remanded in custody(4)
43.2
41.0
37.5
47.2
50.0
54.3
45.7
37.7
8.6
8.5
7.9
10.3
10.8
11.3
9.8
9.0
  Total
499.8
483.1
473.2
456.9
464.2
478.1
468.2
416.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Summary offences (other than motoring)
  Not remanded
520.4
491.7
473.9
457.9
434.3
423.7
426.3
437.5
77.4
76.1
75.3
74.4
68.4
67.4
69.2
73.9
  Remanded on bail
142.0
144.6
145.3
145.6
189.8
193.6
181.7
144.8
21.1
22.4
23.1
23.7
29.9
30.8
29.5
24.4
  Remanded in custody(4)
9.7
10.2
10.0
11.8
10.9
11.1
8.2
10.1
1.4
1.6
1.6
1.9
1.7
1.8
1.3
1.7
  Total
672.1
646.5
629.1
615.3
635.0
628.4
616.1
592.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Summary motoring offences
  Not remanded
806.3
725.9
687.7
606.8
572.2
547.5
496.4
467.6
87.7
87.9
88.7
87.2
84.0
85.4
85.9
88.9
  Remanded on bail
106.0
94.4
83.8
85.2
107.0
91.6
80.2
56.5
11.5
11.4
10.8
12.3
15.7
14.3
13.9
10.7
  Remanded in custody(4)
6.7
5.3
3.9
3.6
2.4
1.7
1.0
2.1
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.5
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.4
  Total
919.1
825.6
775.5
695.6
681.5
640.7
577.6
526.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
All offences
  Not remanded
1,525.2
1,411.6
1,360.3
1,248.8
1,127.0
1,093.5
1,051.6
1,064.3
72.9
72.2
72.4
70.6
63.3
62.6
63.3
69.3
  Remanded on bail
506.0
487.2
466.1
456.6
590.4
586.7
555.4
420.8
24.2
24.9
24.8
25.8
33.2
33.6
33.4
27.4
  Remanded in custody(4)
59.6
56.5
51.4
62.6
63.3
67.0
54.8
49.9
2.8
2.9
2.7
3.5
3.6
3.8
3.3
3.2
  Total
2,090.8
1,955.3
1,877.8
1,768.0
1,780.7
1,747.3
1,661.9
1,535.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
(3) Excludes remands data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July, and August 2008. 
(4) Including those remanded in custody at any stage of proceedings at magistrates' courts who may also have been given bail at some stage of those proceedings.
Note:  Some figures may not sum due to rounding.
Table Q3.2 - Defendants bailed or summonsed by magistrates to appear(1) at magistrates' courts, by type of offence and remand decision, 12 months ending September 2005 
to 12 months ending September 2012 (e)
(2) Prior to 2008, estimates of remands by police and at magistrates’ courts presented in Q3.1 and Q3.2 will not reconcile. See the methodological section of ‘A guide to Criminal Justice Statistics” for further 
information.
(e) Magistrates' courts data are estimated.
Percentages
 Defendants (thousands)
12 months ending September
(1) Total number of defendants proceeded against includes those who failed to appear to a summons, or to bail, who are excluded from the proceedings figures given in other chapters. Approximately 63,800 
persons (4.2 per cent of those directed to appear) failed to appear in the 12 months ending September 2012.
 
35

 
Table Q3.3 - Defendants tried at the Crown Court(1) by remand status during trial at the Crown Court by offence type, 12 months ending Sep 2005 to 12 months ending Sep 2012
England and Wales
Defendants (thousands and percentages)
Type of offence
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Indictable offences
Not remanded
14.9
15.2
14.2
15.0
15.7
14.4
15.9
17.4
15.9
16.2
14.8
14.5
14.4
12.2
13.2
16.0
Remanded on bail
39.8
43.1
46.8
50.5
54.5
63.2
61.9
53.2
42.4
45.9
48.6
49.0
50.0
53.4
51.5
48.9
Remanded in custody
(2)
39.2
35.6
35.2
37.6
38.7
40.7
42.4
38.1
41.7
37.9
36.6
36.5
35.6
34.4
35.3
35.0
Total
93.9
93.9
96.3
103.1
109.0
118.3
120.2
108.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Summary offences (other than motoring)
Not remanded
0.4
0.5
0.7
1.0
1.3
1.4
1.8
1.7
15.2
16.9
19.4
23.2
27.3
23.9
29.5
34.5
Remanded on bail
1.6
1.9
2.2
2.3
2.5
3.4
3.0
2.3
55.7
59.1
58.8
56.2
53.2
57.0
50.3
47.1
Remanded in custody
(2)
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.9
1.1
1.2
0.9
29.1
24.0
21.8
20.7
19.5
19.0
20.2
18.4
Total
2.8
3.2
3.7
4.2
4.7
5.9
6.0
4.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Summary motoring offences
Not remanded
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
32.7
33.8
36.2
37.2
42.1
43.9
48.5
48.8
Remanded on bail
0.3
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.3
41.5
43.3
46.0
49.6
46.2
46.2
41.2
40.5
Remanded in custody
(2)
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
25.8
22.9
17.8
13.2
11.7
10.0
10.3
10.8
Total
0.8
0.7
0.9
1.1
0.9
1.0
0.9
0.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
All offences
Not remanded
15.6
16.0
15.3
16.4
17.4
16.2
18.1
19.5
16.0
16.4
15.2
15.1
15.2
13.0
14.3
17.0
Remanded on bail
41.7
45.3
49.4
53.4
57.4
67.0
65.3
55.8
42.8
46.3
49.0
49.3
50.1
53.5
51.3
48.8
Remanded in custody
(2)
40.2
36.6
36.2
38.6
39.8
42.0
43.7
39.0
41.2
37.4
35.9
35.6
34.7
33.5
34.4
34.2
Total
97.6
97.9
100.9
108.3
114.6
125.2
127.1
114.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
(1) Total number of persons proceeded against includes those who failed to appear to a summons, or to bail, who are excluded from the proceedings figures given in other chapters.
Note: Some figures may not sum due to rounding.
 Defendants (thousands)
Percentages
12 months ending Sep
(2) Including those remanded in custody at any stage of proceedings at the Crown Court who may also have been given bail at some stage of those proceedings. Remand status of defendants shown is based 
on decisions made during proceedings at the Crown Court which may be different to that recorded in Table Q3.4, A3.1 and Table A3.6
 
36

 
England and Wales
Defendants (thousands)
Offence group(3) and remand status
Total
White
Black
Asian 
Other Not recorded
Defendants (thousands)
Violence against the person
24.7
18.5
2.3
1.5
0.7
1.7
   Not remanded
0.8
0.7
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1
   Bailed
15.5
11.9
1.3
0.9
0.4
1.0
   Remanded in custody(4) 
8.4
5.9
1.0
0.5
0.3
0.6
Sexual offences
7.0
5.1
0.6
0.6
0.2
0.5
   Not remanded
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
   Bailed
4.7
3.5
0.3
0.4
0.1
0.3
   Remanded in custody(4) 
2.3
1.5
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.2
Burglary
13.5
10.5
1.3
0.4
0.4
0.9
   Not remanded
0.7
0.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
   Bailed
4.9
3.8
0.5
0.2
0.1
0.3
   Remanded in custody(4) 
7.9
6.1
0.7
0.2
0.3
0.6
Robbery
7.6
4.4
1.5
0.6
0.4
0.7
   Not remanded
0.0
0.0
0.0
-
0.0
0.0
   Bailed
3.1
1.7
0.6
0.3
0.1
0.3
   Remanded in custody(4) 
4.5
2.7
0.9
0.3
0.2
0.3
Theft and handling stolen goods
12.5
8.9
1.2
0.8
0.5
1.2
   Not remanded
0.8
0.6
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1
   Bailed
8.1
5.8
0.8
0.6
0.3
0.8
   Remanded in custody(4) 
3.6
2.5
0.4
0.2
0.2
0.3
Fraud and forgery
7.4
3.4
1.0
0.7
0.3
2.0
   Not remanded
0.3
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
   Bailed
5.3
2.5
0.6
0.5
0.2
1.6
   Remanded in custody(4) 
1.8
0.7
0.4
0.3
0.1
0.3
Criminal damage
1.8
1.4
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.1
   Not remanded
0.0
0.0
0.0
-
0.0
0.0
   Bailed
0.9
0.8
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1
   Remanded in custody(4) 
0.8
0.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
Drug offences
16.6
10.9
2.2
1.4
0.7
1.4
   Not remanded
0.8
0.6
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1
   Bailed
11.0
8.1
1.1
0.8
0.3
0.8
   Remanded in custody(4) 
4.8
2.3
0.9
0.6
0.4
0.6
Other indictable offences
15.3
10.2
1.4
1.1
0.5
2.0
   Not remanded
0.8
0.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.3
   Bailed
9.9
6.8
0.7
0.8
0.3
1.3
   Remanded in custody(4) 
4.5
3.0
0.6
0.3
0.2
0.5
Indictable motoring offences
2.2
1.4
0.2
0.3
0.1
0.2
   Not remanded
0.2
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
   Bailed
1.6
1.0
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.2
   Remanded in custody(4) 
0.5
0.3
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total indictable offences
108.6
74.8
11.7
7.5
3.9
10.8
   Total not remanded
4.5
3.2
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.7
   Total bailed
65.1
45.8
6.1
4.7
2.0
6.6
   Total remanded in custody(4) 
39.0
25.8
5.3
2.6
1.7
3.6
(1) Includes those who failed to appear.
(2) Third party observed (4+1) ethnicity data.
Note: Some figures may not sum due to rounding.
Table Q3.4 - Defendants(1) tried at the Crown Court by ethnicity(2), by remand status before trial or 
sentence and offence group, 12 months ending September 2012
Ethnicity
(4) Includes those remanded for part of the time in custody and part on bail. Remand status shown is that recorded at the point of 
committal from the magistrates' court to the Crown Court for trial or sentence which may differ from that shown in Tables Q3.3 and 
Q3a.
(3) Includes indictable offence groups only. In the 12 months ending Sep 2012, these accounted for 95 per cent of all cases tried at the 
Crown Court.
 
37

 
 
 
 
 
Aged 10-17
England and Wales                                                                                  
Number (thousands)
Type of offence
Sept 2002
Sept 2003
Sept 2004
Sept 2005
Sept 2006
Sept 2007 Sept 2008(2)
Sept 2009
Sept 2010
Sept 2011
Sept 2012
                    
 
Number proceeded against  
(thousands)
Indictable
82.4
           
75.5
           
71.5
           
67.2
           
66.2
           
67.8
           
60.4
           
57.8
               
55.1
           
49.4
           
38.7
           
Summary non motoring
43.7
           
42.8
           
45.3
           
45.8
           
45.5
           
47.6
           
43.9
           
40.0
               
36.8
           
31.1
           
23.2
           
Summary motoring
22.3
           
22.7
           
22.0
           
19.0
           
15.7
           
12.3
           
9.9
             
8.0
                 
6.4
             
5.1
             
3.8
             
All offences
148.5
         
141.1
         
138.8
         
132.1
         
127.3
         
127.7
         
114.2
         
105.9
             
98.3
           
85.5
           
65.7
           
Aged 18 and over
England and Wales                                                                                  
Number (thousands)
Type of offence
Sept 2002
Sept 2003
Sept 2004
Sept 2005
Sept 2006
Sept 2007 Sept 2008(2)
Sept 2009
Sept 2010
Sept 2011
Sept 2012
                    
Number proceeded against  
(thousands)
Indictable
428.8
         
435.2
         
398.2
         
354.2
         
345.7
         
333.6
         
335.0
         
354.3
             
376.9
         
372.7
         
337.3
         
Summary non motoring
552.6
         
577.3
         
628.5
         
592.9
         
568.9
         
551.6
         
545.6
         
571.3
             
572.1
         
566.9
         
553.4
         
Summary motoring
747.3
         
799.5
         
878.9
         
824.2
         
753.2
         
718.0
         
651.1
         
638.9
             
607.1
         
548.4
         
505.9
         
All offences
1,728.7
      
1,812.0
      
1,905.6
      
1,771.4
      
1,667.8
      
1,603.1
      
1,531.7
      
1,564.5
          
1,556.1
      
1,487.9
      
1,396.7
      
All ages
England and Wales                                                                                  
Number (thousands)
Type of offence
Sept 2002
Sept 2003
Sept 2004
Sept 2005
Sept 2006
Sept 2007 Sept 2008(2)
Sept 2009
Sept 2010
Sept 2011
Sept 2012
                    
(1)
Number proceeded against  
(thousands)
Indictable
512.8
         
512.3
         
471.3
         
422.9
         
413.5
         
402.8
         
396.6
         
413.1
             
433.1
         
423.1
         
377.0
         
Summary non-motoring
599.0
         
623.0
         
676.8
         
641.6
         
617.1
         
601.4
         
591.7
         
613.7
             
610.9
         
599.9
         
578.2
         
Summary motoring
778.6
         
831.4
         
911.8
         
852.8
         
776.1
         
737.5
         
668.3
         
655.1
             
621.2
         
560.4
         
516.1
         
All offences
1,890.4
      
1,966.7
      
2,060.0
      
1,917.3
      
1,806.7
      
1,741.7
      
1,656.7
      
1,681.9
          
1,665.3
      
1,583.4
      
1,471.3
      
(1) Including those of unknown sex and "other defendants" i.e. companies, public bodies, etc. 
(2) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July and August 2008.
Note: Some figures may not sum due to rounding.
12 months ending
Table Q3.5 - Defendants(1) proceeded against at magistrates' courts by type of offence and age group, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months 
ending September 2012
12 months ending
12 months ending
 
38

England and Wales
A
B
C
September 2008
4,106
13,108
8,039
25,253
September 2009
3,812
12,161
6,905
22,878
September 2010
3,652
10,435
5,523
19,610
September 2011
3,793
10,444
5,121
19,358
September 2012
3,563
9,581
3,700
16,844 (3)
(3) West Midlands constabulary were unable to supply any FTA warrant data for the period 
covering 1 April 2012 - 30 September 2012. The figures presented in this table therefore 
exclude any outstanding warrants in this police force area which relate to that time period.
Note: These data are reported to the Ministry of Justice by police forces. As such, they are not 
directly comparable with other data presented in this chapter and other chapters in the Criminal 
Statistics bulletin, which are returned directly from administrative data systems used by 
magistrates' courts and the Crown Court.
Table Q3.6 - Number of Failure to Appear (FTA) Warrants 
outstanding(1) in England and Wales, by category(2) of warrant, 
12 months ending September 2008 to 12 months ending 
September 2012 
(1)  Includes outstanding domestic warrants and outstanding exported warrants.  Every effort is 
made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important 
to note that these data have been extracted from live systems used by police forces principally 
for operational reasons. As such, they are subject to change over time. For these reasons, 
care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are 
taken into account when those data are used.
(2) Failure to Appear warrants are assigned a category depending on the seriousness of the 
offence for which the defendant or offender has failed to appear at court having been bailed or 
summonsed. Category A warrants are issued in relation to the most serious offences - see 'A 
Guide to Criminal Justice Statistics' for further information.
Category(2)
Total
12 months ending:
 
 
39

Offenders found guilty 
 
A conviction is where a person or a company is found guilty of a criminal offence at 
either the magistrates’ courts or the Crown Court. 
 
Trends in convictions 
 
There were 1.47 million defendants’ proceeded against at magistrates’ courts in the 
12 months ending September 2012, resulting in 1.23 million offenders convicted and 
sentenced.  This compares with 1.58 million proceedings (7.1 per cent decrease) and 
1.32 million convictions (6.8 per cent decrease) in the 12 months ending September 
2011. 
 
In 12 months ending September 2012, there were: 
 
 
377,000 prosecutions and 311,600 convictions for indictable offences – a 
decrease of 10.9 and 9.5 per cent respectively compared to the same period for 
the previous year.  Prosecutions for indictable offences peaked at 512,800 in the 
12 months ending September 2002 and have fallen by 26.5 per cent since, while 
convictions have remained broadly stable between 307,400 and 344,700. 
 
 
578,200 prosecutions and 470,200 convictions for summary non-motoring 
offences – a decrease of 3.6 per cent and 4.0 per cent respectively since the 12 
months ending September 2011. 
 
 
516,100 prosecutions and 447,200 convictions for summary motoring offences – 
a decrease of 7.9 per cent and 7.8 per cent respectively since 12 months ending 
September 2011, and a continuation of the falls in both prosecutions and 
convictions for summary motoring offences since 12 months ending September 
2004. 
 
Figure 4.1: Offences found guilty by offence type, 12 months ending 
September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012 
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
12 months ending September
Thousands
Indictable
Summary (excluding motoring)
Summary motoring
 
 
40

Convictions for indictable offences accounted for 25.4 per cent of the total offenders 
found guilty in the 12 months ending September 2012. This proportion increased 
year on year from 20.5 per cent in the 12 months ending September 2005 to 26.1 per 
cent in the 12 months ending September 2011. In the 12 months ending September 
2012, summary non-motoring offences accounted for 38.3 per cent, and summary 
motoring offences accounted for 36.4 per cent of all convictions respectively. 
 
Convictions by offence group 
 
All ten indictable offence groups showed a decrease in number of convictions in the 
12 months ending September 2012 compared to the 12 months ending September 
2011. 
 
Figure 4.2: Percentage change in convictions by offence type and offence 
group, 12 months ending September 2011 to 12 months ending 
September 2012 
 
All offences, -6.8
Summary motoring, -7.8
Summary non-motoring, -4.0
Indictable total, -9.5
Motoring offences, -5.4
Other (excluding motoring 
offences), -14.9
Drug offences, -6.3
Criminal damage, -13.7
Robbery, -4.4
Fraud and forgery, -15.8
Theft and handling stolen 
goods, -7.3
Burglary, -7.7
Sexual offences, -5.3
Violence against the person, 
-13.9
-30.0
-20.0
-10.0
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
1
Percentage change 12 months ending September 2011 to 12 months ending September 2012
 
 
 
Conviction demographics 
 
A total of 883,000 males were found guilty in the 12 months ending September 2012, 
accounting for 72.2 per cent of all persons convicted.  This compares with 292,000 
females found guilty, 23.9 per cent of all persons. The proportion of convictions 
accounted for by males has decreased by 10.0 percentage points from 82.2 per cent 
in the 12 months ending September 2003.  
 
A total of 50,100 juveniles (those aged 10 to 17) were found guilty during the 12 
months ending September 2012 (4.1 per cent of all persons found guilty). 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 310,900 persons found guilty 
of an indictable offence, of which 90.4 per cent were of a known ethnicity. This 
represents a 39.6 percentage point increase in known ethnicity since 2008, the year 
in which the LIBRA case management system was rolled out in magistrates’ courts.    
 
 
41

For all indictable offences, 10.3 per cent of offenders of a known ethnicity were black, 
though this varied by offence type – ranging from 5.0 per cent for Criminal damage to 
26.5 per cent for Robbery.  
 
Conviction ratio 
 
The conviction ratio is defined as the proportion of defendants proceeded against 
who were found guilty. In the 12 months ending September 2012, the conviction ratio 
for all offences was 83.5 per cent, an increase of 0.2 percentage points compared to 
the 12 months ending September 2011.  The overall conviction ratio has risen by 9.9 
percentage points since the 12 months ending September 2002.  
 
Figure 4.3: Conviction ratio by indictable offence group, 12 months ending 
                   September 2010 to 12 months ending September 2012 
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Violence
against the
person
Sexual
offences
Burglary
Robbery
Theft and
handling
stolen
goods
Fraud and
forgery
Criminal
damage
Drug
offences
Other
(excluding
motoring
offences)
Motoring
offences
Conviction ratio
September 2010
September 2011
September 2012
 
 
Compared to the 12 months ending September 2011, in the 12 months ending 
September 2012, there was: 
 
 
an increase of 1.2 percentage points in the conviction ratio for indictable offences 
(82.6 per cent in the 12 months ending September 2012). 
 
 
a decrease of 0.3 percentage points in the conviction ratio for summary non-
motoring offences (81.3 per cent in the 12 months ending September 2012). 
 
 
an increase of 0.1 percentage points in the conviction ratio for summary motoring 
offences (86.6 per cent in the 12 months ending September 2012). 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, the conviction ratio increased for nine of 
the ten indictable offence groups compared to the 12 months ending September 
2011.  Compared to the 12 months ending September 2002, conviction ratios have 
risen for all indictable offence groups. The largest increase has been for Violence 
against the person, which has increased by 25.4 percentage points from a conviction 
rate of 47.8 per cent to 73.2 per cent across the 11 year period. 
 
42

 
 
Table Q4.1
 
 
 
43

 
 
 
 
England and Wales
Number of offenders (thousands)
 
Aged
Aged
Aged
Aged
10-17
18 and over
10-17 18 and over
Indictable offences
Violence against the person
37.4
33.2
3.3
29.9
4.1
0.5
3.7
0.1
Sexual offences
5.7
5.6
0.4
5.2
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.0
Burglary
23.1
21.9
3.6
18.3
1.1
0.2
0.9
0.1
Robbery
8.7
7.9
3.1
4.8
0.7
0.3
0.4
0.0
Theft and handling stolen goods
112.5
88.6
7.9
80.7
23.3
1.7
21.5
0.6
Fraud and forgery
16.7
11.6
0.3
11.3
4.6
0.1
4.5
0.5
Criminal damage
6.2
5.4
1.0
4.5
0.8
0.2
0.6
0.0
Drug offences
57.6
53.4
4.2
49.2
4.0
0.2
3.8
0.2
Other (excluding motoring offences)
40.6
34.8
2.0
32.7
4.4
0.3
4.1
1.4
Motoring offences
3.0
2.8
0.1
2.7
0.2
0.0
0.2
0.0
Total
311.6
265.2
25.9
239.3
43.3
3.5
39.8
3.1
Summary offences
Summary non-motoring
470.2
278.1
13.6
264.5
167.3
3.4
163.9
24.8
Summary motoring
447.2
339.8
2.9
336.9
81.4
0.2
81.2
26.0
Total 
917.4
617.8
16.5
601.4
248.7
3.7
245.0
50.8
All offences (2)
1,229.0
883.0
42.4
840.7
292.0
7.2
284.8
53.9
(1) Includes sex 'not stated' and other offenders, i.e. companies, public bodies etc.
(2) May not sum due to rounding.
Table Q4.2  -  Offenders found guilty at all courts by offence group, sex and age group, 12 months ending September 2012
Males
Females
Offence group
Other
offenders (1)
All offenders
All ages
All ages
 
 
 
44

 
 
England and Wales 
Percentages
Offence group
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Indictable offences
Violence against the person
47.8
47.6
52.3
59.6
63.4
67.7
69.5
67.3
66.4
70.0
73.2
Sexual offences
50.4
45.7
48.9
50.0
52.8
57.6
60.4
54.7
54.4
60.2
62.3
Burglary
60.6
61.9
66.7
71.9
74.0
76.5
77.4
74.9
74.7
75.9
77.2
Robbery
46.9
54.7
57.8
58.5
60.6
60.3
65.8
63.8
62.3
62.9
68.1
Theft and handling stolen goods
77.7
78.4
81.0
84.0
85.0
86.3
89.0
89.4
89.5
89.6
89.8
Fraud and forgery
72.0
72.0
74.5
78.5
78.9
80.6
85.8
81.5
79.9
84.9
83.3
Criminal damage
58.8
60.0
63.9
69.8
72.5
73.9
78.5
78.2
78.4
78.9
79.8
Drug offences
86.1
87.0
88.0
90.2
90.4
90.5
92.4
92.2
91.8
91.7
91.9
Other (excluding motoring offences)
50.6
51.0
56.4
60.9
62.2
62.6
63.7
67.4
70.8
73.4
74.0
Motoring offences
74.6
77.2
78.4
84.5
83.7
88.1
87.4
88.2
88.6
88.6
91.2
Total
65.3
65.7
68.6
72.7
74.3
76.4
79.5
79.3
79.6
81.4
82.6
Summary offences
Summary non-motoring
78.0
77.8
78.4
79.8
80.7
81.7
83.0
83.5
81.5
81.6
81.3
Summary motoring
75.8
76.9
78.0
79.6
81.3
83.5
84.8
85.5
85.8
86.6
86.6
Total
76.8
77.3
78.2
79.7
81.0
82.7
83.9
84.6
83.7
84.0
83.8
All offences
73.6
74.3
76.0
78.1
79.5
81.3
82.9
83.3
82.6
83.3
83.5
(1) The conviction ratio is calculated as the number of convictions as a proportion of the number of proceedings.
(2) Excludes convictions data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July, and August 2008.
12 months ending September
Table Q4.3  -  Conviction ratio
(1) by offence group, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012
(2)
 
45

Sentencing 
 
When someone is convicted of a crime, they will be given a sentence by a court 
which reflects the seriousness of the offence or offences committed by the offender. 
Sentences are generally time spent in prison, a community sentence, a fine or 
discharge. 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 1.23 million offenders 
sentenced following a criminal conviction, a decrease of 6.8 per cent from 1.32 
million offenders sentenced in the 12 months ending September 2011.  The public 
disorder of August 2011 had little impact on these figures as those convicted for the 
public disorder accounted for less than one per cent of offenders in the 12 months 
ending September 2012.  
 
Compared to the 12 months ending September 2011, there was: 
 
 
a decrease of 5.9 per cent in offenders sentenced for summary offences 
(917,700 compared to 975,300) and a decrease of 9.5 per cent in offenders 
sentenced for indictable offences (310,200 compared to 342,800). 
 
 
a decrease of 6.7 per cent in offenders sentenced at magistrates’ courts 
(1,134,100 compared to 1,215,300) and a decrease of 8.7 per cent in offenders 
sentenced at the Crown Court (93,900 compared to 102,800). 
 
Sentence outcomes for all offences 
 
Over the 11 year period, there has been an increase in the number of Suspended 
Sentence Orders (SSO) reflecting the change in legislation when it was introduced 
on 4 April 2005.  
 
Figure 5.1: Sentence outcomes handed down by courts, 12 months ending 
                   September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012 
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 2009
 2010
 2011
 2012
12 months ending September 2012
Per cent of offenders
   Absolute discharge
   Conditional discharge
   Fine
   Community sentences
   Suspended sentence
   Immediate custody
   Otherwise dealt with 
 
(1) Fully suspended sentence for offences committed prior to 4 April 2005, suspended sentence order from 4 April 2005.  
(2) Includes outcomes such as compensation, hospital and guardianship orders, police cells, and recognizances. 
 
46

Although the SSO should only be used where the court is minded to pass a custodial 
sentence of less than 12 months, the increase in offenders sentenced with a SSO 
has not been offset by a similar decrease in offenders sentenced with a custodial 
sentence of less than 12 months. 
 
Custodial sentences 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 97,500 persons sentenced to 
immediate custody, a decrease of 4.7 per cent from 102,300 persons in the same 
period a year earlier and 12.6 per cent lower than the peak of 111,500 persons 
sentenced to immediate custody in the 12 months ending September 2002.  In the 
latest period, 44,500 custodial sentences were imposed at magistrates’ courts and 
53,000 were imposed at Crown Courts, decreases of 5.3 per cent and 4.2 percent 
respectively compared to the same period a year earlier. 
 
While absolute numbers of persons sentenced to immediate custody have decreased 
in recent years, the immediate custody rate (the proportion of those sentenced who 
are sentenced to immediate custody) has risen from a low of 6.6 per cent in the 12 
months ending September 2007 to 8.0 per cent in the 12 months ending September 
2012. This illustrates the fact that, since 2007, the overall number of offenders 
sentenced at court has decreased faster than the number of persons sentenced to 
immediate custody. 
 
There were, 1,218 indeterminate sentences (either a life sentence or an 
Indeterminate sentence for Public Protection – an IPP) handed down in the 12 
months ending September 2012, a 1.1 per cent decrease from 1,232 in the same 
period a year earlier. This continued the fall since the Criminal Justice and 
Immigration Act (CJIA) 2008 was introduced, which restricted the use of IPPs. 
However, within this group, over the last 12 months the number of life sentences has 
increased by 16.7 per cent (426 in the 12 months ending September 2012, compared 
to 365 in the same period a year earlier). The decrease in indeterminate sentences 
has coincided with an increase in longer determinate sentences. In the 12 months 
ending September 2012, there were 690 custodial sentences of over 10 years and 
less than life handed down, a 10.2 per cent increase from 626 in the same period a 
year earlier. 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, the Average Custodial Sentence Length 
(ACSL) was 14.9 months, an increase of 0.6 months compared to the 12 months 
ending September 2011, and an increase of 2.5 months compared to the 12 months 
ending September 2002. The rise in ACSL has been driven by the change in the 
case mix of people getting custodial sentences and longer sentences for indictable 
offences: 
 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2002, summary motoring offences 
accounted for 15.3 per cent of immediate custodial sentences, with an ACSL of 
3.4 months. By the 12 months ending September 2012, they accounted for just 
3.0 per cent of immediate custodial sentences, with a reduction in ACSL to 3.1 
months. 
 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2002, indictable offences accounted for 76.2 
per cent of immediate custodial sentences, with an ACSL of 15.2 months. By the 
12 months ending September 2012, they accounted for 83.2 per cent of 
immediate custodial sentences, with an increase in ACSL to 17.4 months. In 
particular, sexual offences saw a rise in ACSL from 41.8 months in the 12 
 
47

 
At the magistrates’ courts, the ACSL in the 12 months ending September 2012 was 
2.6 months, the same as in the previous period, whilst at the Crown Court the ASCL 
increased by 1.0 months from the 12 months ending September 2011 to 25.6 
months. 
 
Suspended Sentence Orders 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 44,400 Suspended Sentence 
Orders handed down, a decrease of 8.8 per cent from the same period a year earlier.  
Of these: 
 
 
24,100 persons received their sentence at the magistrates’ courts, a decrease of 
9.2 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier. This type of sentence 
was given to 2.1 per cent of persons in a magistrate’s court in the 12 months 
ending September 2012. 
 
 
20,200 persons received their sentence at the Crown Court, a decrease of 8.4 
per cent compared to the same period a year earlier. Just over one fifth (21.5 per 
cent) of persons were given a suspended sentence at the Crown Court, an 
increase from 10.6 per cent in the 12 months ending September 2006. Between 
the 12 months ending September 2002 and September 2005, less than three per 
cent of persons were given a suspended sentence at the Crown Court. 
 
Community sentences 
 
There were 153,900 community sentences handed down in the 12 months ending 
September 2012, a decrease of 14.0 per cent from the same period a year earlier. 
Community Orders accounted for nearly all the community sentences given to adults 
(99.7 per cent), while for juveniles the Referral Order was still the most common 
sentence (accounting for 52.3 per cent of all juvenile community sentences).  The 
Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO), introduced in November 2009, accounted for a 
further 45.1 per cent of all juvenile community sentences in the 12 months ending 
September 2012.  Of the 153,900 community sentences handed down: 
 
 
138,700 persons received their sentence at magistrates’ courts, a 13.7 per cent 
fall from the same period a year earlier.  Over the past 11 years, the magistrates’ 
court community sentence rate (the proportion of all offenders sentenced at the 
magistrates’ court receiving a community sentence) has ranged between 11.8 
per cent in the 12 months ending September 2004 and 13.9 per cent in the 12 
months ending September 2009.   
 
 
15,100 persons received their sentence at the Crown Court.  This was a 16.3 per 
cent decrease from the same period a year earlier. The Crown Court community 
sentence rate decreased from a peak over the period of 30.4 per cent in the 12 
months ending September 2003 to a low of 16.1 per cent in the 12 months 
ending September 2012. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
48

 
Fines 
 
Fines continue to be the most common sentence due to the large volumes issued at 
magistrates’ courts.  In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 816,600 
fines handed down (99.8 per cent of these being issued at magistrates’ courts), a 
decrease of 5.2 per cent from the same period a year earlier.  Of the offenders 
receiving fines in the 12 months ending September 2012:    
 
 
The majority were issued for summary offences, with only 6.6 per cent issued for 
indictable offences. 
 
 
The fine rate for indictable offences at all courts was 17.4 per cent, a similar 
proportion to the previous two years. This has decreased from a peak over the 
last decade of 23.5 per cent in the 12 months ending September 2003. 
 
Other sentences 
 
Other sentences comprise absolute and conditional discharges and ‘otherwise dealt 
with’ sentences.  The latter category deals with a miscellaneous group containing: 
mental health disposals; ancillary orders; and other procedural disposals.  There 
were 115,600 other sentences handed down in the 12 months ending September 
2012.  These comprised:    
 
 
80,300 conditional discharges, a decrease of 7.4 per cent from the same period a 
year earlier and a fall of 18.6 per cent compared with the 12 months ending 
September 2002. 
 
 
7,500 absolute discharges, a decrease of 8.1 per cent from the same period a 
year earlier and a fall of 57.1 per cent compared with the 12 months ending 
September 2002. 
 
 
27,800 offenders ‘otherwise dealt with’, a decrease of 12.1 per cent from the 
same period a year earlier and a fall of 3.9 per cent compared with the 12 
months ending September 2002. 
 
 
49

Sentence outcomes by age band 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 1.17 million adults (aged 18 
and over) sentenced, a decrease of 5.9 per cent from the same period a year earlier 
and 19.6 per cent from the 12 months ending September 2004, when the highest 
number of adults were sentenced over the 11 year period (1.46 million). 
 
The proportion of adult offenders receiving fines decreased by 3.1 percentage points 
over the 11 year period, from 71.9 per cent in the 12 months ending September 2002 
to 68.8 per cent in the latest period. 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 50,000 juveniles (aged 10-17) 
sentenced, a decrease of 23.6 per cent from the same period a year earlier and 47.3 
per cent from the 12 months ending September 2002. 
 
The number of juveniles sentenced remained relatively stable between the 12 
months ending September 2002 and 2007, but the number and proportion of 
community sentences for juveniles over the same period increased, from 50,900 to 
65,800 over the period (up 29.3 per cent). While the number of juveniles sentenced 
has decreased by 48.6 per cent since the 12 months ending September 2007, the 
community sentence rate for juveniles has remained between 65.2 and 68.8 per cent.  
 
The large increase in the community sentence rate for juveniles over the last 11 
years has been offset by decreases in the fine rate, from 18.5 per cent in the 12 
months ending September 2002 to 8.0 per cent in the latest period. 
 
Figure 5.2 provides a breakdown of all the sentence outcomes for juveniles and 
adults, showing how offences committed by juveniles and adults are dealt with 
differently by the courts. 
 
Figure 5.2: Sentence outcomes by age band, 12 months ending September 
2012 
 
 
 
  
 
50

Offenders sentenced by ethnicity  
 
Data on the ethnicity of offenders is currently held for offenders who have been 
convicted of an indictable offence. In the 12 months ending September 2012, there 
were 309,500 persons sentenced for indictable offences, of which 90.5 per cent were 
of a known ethnicity. 
 
 
74.7 per cent were White; 9.3 per cent were Black; 4.7 per cent were Asian; and 
1.7 per cent were of ‘other ethnicity’. The remaining 9.5 per cent were of 
unknown ethnicity.  
 
 
The immediate custody rate for indictable offences for all ethnicities was 26.2 per 
cent. This varied between ethnicities with: White offenders having a custody rate 
of 25.2 per cent; Black offenders having a custody rate of 29.5 per cent; Asian 
offenders having a custody rate of 32.0 per cent; and ‘other’ having a custody 
rate of 44.2 per cent. 
 
These differences are likely to relate to a range of factors including variations in the 
offences committed and the plea entered by people from different ethnic 
backgrounds. For more information see the publication ‘Race and the Criminal 
Justice System - Sentence outcomes and offence types by gender.’ 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 882,300 sentences given to 
males and 292,000 to females. This represents a decrease for both males and 
females compared with the same period a year earlier (8.7 per cent and 2.5 per cent 
decreases respectively). While for males this represents the continuation of a 
decrease since the 12 months ending September 2004, for females this constitutes a 
third consecutive annual decrease after a broadly upward trend between 12 months 
ending September 2002 and September 2009 (a 24.8 per cent increase between 
these years).
 
51

  
 
 
 
 
 
Number of offenders
ber 
10
September 
2011
September 
2012
0
342,809
310,233
02
84,463
81,123
49
34,841
31,886
9
102,557
86,026
41
59,300
54,048
9
1,795
1,622
9
41,695
38,781
1
18,158
16,747
.4
16.8
17.4
54
489,905
470,463
9
14,506
13,414
09
9,580
8,699
23
61,558
54,698
9
348,312
342,844
0
2,650
2,569
2
42,272
39,117
82
11,027
9,122
2.6
2.5
2.6
53
485,366
447,245
67
3,321
2,947
45
4,213
3,773
07
14,730
13,149
5
454,119
419,710
2
3,717
3,307
9
2,788
2,406
68
2,478
1,953
3.1
3.1
3.1
17
1,318,080
1,227,941
8
102,290
97,484
03
48,634
44,358
59
178,845
153,873
65
861,731
816,602
51
8,162
7,498
0
86,755
80,304
1
31,663
27,822
.8
14.3
14.9
 
Offence group
Outcome
September 
2002
September 
2003
September 
2004
September 
2005
September 
2006
September 
2007
September 
2008
September 
2009
Septem
20
All indictable 
Total number sentenced
332,867
335,143
322,700
305,675
306,356
306,885
314,477
325,773
342,31
offences
Number given:
   Immediate custody
85,000
81,125
80,416
77,209
74,620
72,428
78,639
80,007
81,8
   Suspended sentence
2,056
2,057
2,034
3,701
17,361
25,992
28,776
30,192
33,2
   Community sentences
107,666
110,548
110,546
111,107
106,213
103,799
101,920
109,043
107,22
   Fines
77,920
78,610
69,059
59,109
53,662
49,508
48,723
54,922
59,3
   Absolute discharge
2,604
3,151
2,712
2,352
2,351
2,162
2,029
1,664
1,79
   Conditional discharge
46,695
47,771
44,749
40,472
39,129
40,427
40,630
38,906
41,91
   Otherwise dealt with 
10,926
11,881
13,184
11,725
13,020
12,569
13,760
11,039
16,97
Average custodial sentence length (months)(2)
15.2
15.8
15.9
16.2
15.2
15.2
15.7
16.2
16
Summary non- 
Total number sentenced
467,069
484,510
530,164
512,001
497,565
491,173
490,889
512,728
497,8
motoring offences
Number given:
   Immediate custody
9,474
9,317
10,763
11,928
12,511
12,863
14,140
14,824
14,33
   Suspended sentence
224
243
303
870
5,017
7,127
7,668
8,641
9,5
   Community sentences
39,538
42,791
48,630
56,426
59,469
63,559
65,823
68,040
65,1
   Fines
361,879
372,361
404,664
381,296
360,008
345,748
338,439
368,609
349,79
   Absolute discharge
5,095
5,408
4,320
4,048
3,726
3,624
3,504
2,956
3,01
   Conditional discharge
42,949
44,957
46,683
43,669
42,663
44,495
44,649
41,086
43,99
   Otherwise dealt with 
7,909
9,434
14,801
13,764
14,171
13,757
16,666
8,572
12,0
Average custodial sentence length (months)(2)
2.7
2.7
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.7
2.7
2.6
Summary motoring 
Total number sentenced
590,117
639,456
711,291
678,512
630,807
616,103
566,733
560,251
533,1
offences
Number given:
   Immediate custody
17,024
17,187
15,847
13,484
10,750
8,090
6,819
5,519
4,1
   Suspended sentence
342
381
401
1,510
6,168
6,342
5,289
5,043
4,5
   Community sentences
31,975
38,767
39,442
35,845
29,727
26,351
22,849
20,782
16,8
   Fines
511,843
553,508
625,259
600,442
559,505
552,646
508,415
512,904
496,82
   Absolute discharge
9,791
11,373
8,418
7,131
6,053
5,358
4,777
4,256
4,24
   Conditional discharge
9,033
9,093
9,769
8,645
7,643
6,456
5,125
3,683
3,19
   Otherwise dealt with 
10,110
9,147
12,155
11,455
10,961
10,860
13,459
8,064
3,3
Average custodial sentence length (months)(2)
3.4
3.5
3.5
3.4
3.4
3.3
3.2
3.1
All offences
Total number sentenced
1,390,053
1,459,109
1,564,155
1,496,188
1,434,728
1,414,161
1,372,099
1,398,752
1,373,3
Number given:
   Immediate custody
111,498
107,629
107,026
102,621
97,881
93,381
99,598
100,350
100,30
   Suspended sentence
2,622
2,681
2,738
6,081
28,546
39,461
41,733
43,876
47,3
   Community sentences
179,179
192,106
198,618
203,378
195,409
193,709
190,592
197,865
189,1
   Fines
951,641
1,004,479
1,098,982
1,040,847
973,175
947,902
895,577
936,435
905,9
   Absolute discharge
17,490
19,932
15,450
13,531
12,130
11,144
10,310
8,876
9,0
   Conditional discharge
98,677
101,821
101,201
92,786
89,435
91,378
90,404
83,675
89,11
   Otherwise dealt with 
28,945
30,462
40,140
36,944
38,152
37,186
43,885
27,675
32,42
Average custodial sentence length (months)(2)
12.4
12.7
12.7
12.9
12.3
12.4
13.0
13.4
13
(1) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July and August 2008.
(2) Excludes life and indeterminate sentences.
12 months ending
England and Wales  
Table Q5.1 - Offenders sentenced by offence group and outcome, all courts, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012(1)
 
52

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of offenders
ber 
10
September 
2011
September 
2012
43
246,642
221,832
66
31,087
29,679
0
13,807
12,634
8
86,332
72,531
02
57,812
52,879
4
1,714
1,557
77
39,730
37,407
66
16,160
15,145
2.5
2.5
2.5
48
484,157
465,723
33
12,823
12,045
4
8,705
7,885
4
59,833
53,202
57
347,859
342,522
4
2,636
2,559
94
41,532
38,573
2
10,769
8,937
2.5
2.5
2.5
15
484,465
446,505
42
3,086
2,778
9
4,065
3,626
8
14,582
12,998
14
453,834
419,520
42
3,713
3,305
4
2,767
2,392
6
2,418
1,886
3.1
3.1
3.1
06
1,215,264
1,134,060
41
46,996
44,502
33
26,577
24,145
00
160,747
138,731
73
859,505
814,921
70
8,063
7,421
45
84,029
78,372
44
29,347
25,968
2.6
2.6
2.6
Offence group
Outcome
September 
2002
September 
2003
September 
2004
September 
2005
September 
2006
September 
2007
September 
2008
September 
2009
Septem
20
All indictable 
Total number sentenced
260,789
262,279
249,935
233,178
233,626
231,920
232,147
238,661
248,4
offences
Number given:
   Immediate custody
39,333
37,492
36,458
33,442
32,664
30,452
31,879
30,543
30,9
   Suspended sentence
518
492
565
1,722
9,449
12,219
11,949
12,208
12,84
   Community sentences
87,905
88,604
88,909
89,714
88,612
90,012
88,341
94,489
90,55
   Fines
76,070
76,548
67,121
57,292
52,066
47,791
47,132
53,347
57,6
   Absolute discharge
2,526
3,090
2,648
2,301
2,295
2,115
1,975
1,602
1,73
   Conditional discharge
44,746
45,634
42,516
38,471
37,305
38,569
38,722
36,987
39,6
   Otherwise dealt with 
9,691
10,419
11,718
10,236
11,235
10,762
12,149
9,485
15,0
Average custodial sentence length (months)(2)
3.0
3.0
3.0
2.9
2.9
2.9
2.8
2.6
Summary non- 
Total number sentenced
464,622
482,078
527,517
509,236
494,491
487,556
486,864
508,220
492,1
motoring offences
Number given:
   Immediate custody
8,914
8,819
10,204
11,264
11,812
12,003
13,051
13,538
12,9
   Suspended sentence
207
229
290
850
4,833
6,778
7,236
7,967
8,51
   Community sentences
38,582
41,878
47,699
55,344
58,431
62,482
64,586
66,767
63,37
   Fines
361,532
371,988
404,279
380,960
359,670
345,310
338,072
368,234
349,3
   Absolute discharge
5,092
5,402
4,315
4,043
3,717
3,613
3,498
2,943
2,99
   Conditional discharge
42,456
44,467
46,086
43,211
42,129
43,914
44,032
40,473
43,1
   Otherwise dealt with 
7,838
9,296
14,644
13,564
13,899
13,456
16,389
8,298
11,78
Average custodial sentence length (months)(2)
2.7
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.7
2.7
2.6
2.6
Summary motoring 
Total number sentenced
589,317
638,662
710,511
677,743
630,116
615,199
565,669
559,337
532,2
offences
Number given:
   Immediate custody
16,722
16,912
15,584
13,246
10,542
7,881
6,567
5,287
3,9
   Suspended sentence
341
374
399
1,503
6,123
6,260
5,177
4,945
4,37
   Community sentences
31,750
38,509
39,205
35,624
29,574
26,207
22,704
20,621
16,66
   Fines
511,636
553,305
625,017
600,218
559,296
552,348
508,026
512,591
496,5
   Absolute discharge
9,791
11,372
8,417
7,128
6,053
5,357
4,777
4,254
4,2
   Conditional discharge
9,016
9,073
9,750
8,628
7,630
6,425
5,094
3,658
3,17
   Otherwise dealt with 
10,062
9,117
12,139
11,396
10,898
10,721
13,324
7,981
3,29
Average custodial sentence length (months)(2)
3.4
3.5
3.5
3.4
3.4
3.3
3.2
3.1
All offences
Total number sentenced
1,314,728
1,383,019
1,487,963
1,420,157
1,358,233
1,334,675
1,284,680
1,306,218
1,272,8
Number given:
   Immediate custody
64,969
63,223
62,246
57,952
55,018
50,336
51,497
49,368
47,8
   Suspended sentence
1,066
1,095
1,254
4,075
20,405
25,257
24,362
25,120
25,7
   Community sentences
158,237
168,991
175,813
180,682
176,617
178,701
175,631
181,877
170,6
   Fines
949,237
1,001,841
1,096,417
1,038,470
971,032
945,449
893,230
934,172
903,4
   Absolute discharge
17,409
19,864
15,380
13,472
12,065
11,085
10,250
8,799
8,9
   Conditional discharge
96,218
99,174
98,352
90,310
87,064
88,908
87,848
81,118
86,0
   Otherwise dealt with 
27,591
28,832
38,501
35,196
36,032
34,939
41,862
25,764
30,1
Average custodial sentence length (months)(2)
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.0
3.0
2.9
2.8
2.7
(1) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July and August 2008.
(2) Excludes life and indeterminate sentences.
12 months ending
England and Wales  
Table Q5.2 - Offenders sentenced by offence group and outcome, magistrates' courts, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012(1)
 
53

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of offenders
ber 
10
September 
2011
September 
2012
67
96,167
88,401
36
53,376
51,444
09
21,034
19,252
71
16,225
13,495
39
1,488
1,169
65
81
65
42
1,965
1,374
05
1,998
1,602
5.1
25.4
26.3
06
5,748
4,740
06
1,683
1,369
95
875
814
49
1,725
1,496
42
453
322
16
14
10
98
740
544
00
258
185
3.3
3.1
3.0
38
901
740
25
235
169
66
148
147
39
148
151
11
285
190
2
0
4
2
25
21
14
72
60
67
3.3
3.1
3.1
1
102,816
93,881
67
55,294
52,982
70
22,057
20,213
59
18,098
15,142
92
2,226
1,681
81
99
77
65
2,726
1,932
77
2,316
1,854
4.4
24.6
25.6
Offence group
Outcome
September 
2002
September 
2003
September 
2004
September 
2005
September 
2006
September 
2007
September 
2008
September 
2009
Septem
20
All indictable 
Total number sentenced
72,078
72,864
72,765
72,497
72,730
74,965
82,330
87,112
93,8
offences
Number given:
   Immediate custody
45,667
43,633
43,958
43,767
41,956
41,976
46,760
49,464
50,8
   Suspended sentence
1,538
1,565
1,469
1,979
7,912
13,773
16,827
17,984
20,4
   Community sentences
19,761
21,944
21,637
21,393
17,601
13,787
13,579
14,554
16,6
   Fines
1,850
2,062
1,938
1,817
1,596
1,717
1,591
1,575
1,7
   Absolute discharge
78
61
64
51
56
47
54
62
   Conditional discharge
1,949
2,137
2,233
2,001
1,824
1,858
1,908
1,919
2,2
   Otherwise dealt with 
1,235
1,462
1,466
1,489
1,785
1,807
1,611
1,554
1,9
Average custodial sentence length (months)(2)
25.9
26.9
26.7
26.5
25.3
24.7
25.0
24.9
2
Summary non- 
Total number sentenced
2,447
2,432
2,647
2,765
3,074
3,617
4,025
4,508
5,7
motoring offences
Number given:
   Immediate custody
560
498
559
664
699
860
1,089
1,286
1,4
   Suspended sentence
17
14
13
20
184
349
432
674
9
   Community sentences
956
913
931
1,082
1,038
1,077
1,237
1,273
1,7
   Fines
347
373
385
336
338
438
367
375
4
   Absolute discharge
3
6
5
5
9
11
6
13
   Conditional discharge
493
490
597
458
534
581
617
613
7
   Otherwise dealt with 
71
138
157
200
272
301
277
274
3
Average custodial sentence length (months)(2)
3.4
3.3
3.6
3.6
3.9
3.6
3.4
3.2
Summary motoring 
Total number sentenced
800
794
780
769
691
904
1,064
914
9
offences
Number given:
   Immediate custody
302
275
263
238
208
209
252
232
2
   Suspended sentence
1
7
2
7
45
82
112
98
1
   Community sentences
225
258
237
221
153
144
145
161
1
   Fines
207
203
242
224
209
298
389
313
3
   Absolute discharge
0
1
1
3
0
1
0
   Conditional discharge
17
20
19
17
13
31
31
25
   Otherwise dealt with 
48
30
16
59
63
139
135
83
Average custodial sentence length (months)(2)
3.8
3.9
3.8
3.8
3.6
3.7
3.3
3.3
All offences
Total number sentenced
75,325
76,090
76,192
76,031
76,495
79,486
87,419
92,534
100,51
Number given:
   Immediate custody
46,529
44,406
44,780
44,669
42,863
43,045
48,101
50,982
52,4
   Suspended sentence
1,556
1,586
1,484
2,006
8,141
14,204
17,371
18,756
21,5
   Community sentences
20,942
23,115
22,805
22,696
18,792
15,008
14,961
15,988
18,5
   Fines
2,404
2,638
2,565
2,377
2,143
2,453
2,347
2,263
2,4
   Absolute discharge
81
68
70
59
65
59
60
77
   Conditional discharge
2,459
2,647
2,849
2,476
2,371
2,470
2,556
2,557
3,0
   Otherwise dealt with 
1,354
1,630
1,639
1,748
2,120
2,247
2,023
1,911
2,2
Average custodial sentence length (months)(2)
25.5
26.5
26.3
26.0
24.8
24.2
24.4
24.2
2
(1) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July and August 2008.
(2) Excludes life and indeterminate sentences.
12 months ending
England and Wales  
Table Q5.3 - Offenders sentenced by offence group and outcome, the Crown Court, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012(1)
 
54

 
 
 
 
 
Number 
September 
2002
September 
2003
September 
2004
September 
2005
September 
2006
September 
2007
September 
2008
September 
2009
Septe
1,380,860
1,449,430
1,553,311
1,486,783
1,426,725
1,406,484
1,364,122
1,390,057
1,36
Males
1,131,743
1,191,103
1,273,555
1,203,529
1,148,519
1,120,251
1,065,768
1,043,501
1,02
Females
249,117
258,327
279,756
283,254
278,206
286,233
285,153
310,804
30
Not Stated
13,201
35,752
3
1,390,053
1,459,109
1,564,155
1,496,188
1,434,728
1,414,161
1,372,099
1,398,752
1,37
of which:  Others
9,193
9,679
10,844
9,405
8,003
7,677
7,977
8,695
Sentence
   Immediate custody
111,498
107,629
107,026
102,621
97,881
93,381
99,598
100,350
10
   Rate(2)
8.1
7.4
6.9
6.9
6.9
6.6
7.3
7.2
   Suspended sentence
2,622
2,681
2,738
6,081
28,546
39,461
41,733
43,876
4
   Rate(2)
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.4
2.0
2.8
3.1
3.2
   Community sentences
179,179
192,106
198,618
203,378
195,409
193,709
190,592
197,865
18
   Rate(2)
13.0
13.3
12.8
13.7
13.7
13.8
14.0
14.2
   Fine
951,641
1,004,479
1,098,982
1,040,847
973,175
947,902
895,577
936,435
90
   Rate
68.5
68.8
70.3
69.6
67.8
67.0
65.3
66.9
   Absolute discharge
17,490
19,932
15,450
13,531
12,130
11,144
10,310
8,876
   Rate
1.3
1.4
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.6
   Conditional discharge
98,677
101,821
101,201
92,786
89,435
91,378
90,404
83,675
8
   Rate
7.1
7.0
6.5
6.2
6.2
6.5
6.6
6.0
   Otherwise dealt with 
28,945
30,462
40,140
36,944
38,152
37,186
43,885
27,675
3
   Rate
2.1
2.1
2.6
2.5
2.7
2.6
3.2
2.0
(1) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July and August 2008.
(2) Rates are calculated on persons for sentences of immediate custody, suspended sentence and community sentence as 'others' cannot receive this sent
England and Wales  
12 months ending
Table Q5.4 - Offenders and persons sentenced by outcome and rate, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012
of offenders/persons and rates
mber 
2010
September 
2011
September 
2012
5,372
1,310,823
1,221,445
1,706
966,767
882,267
7,718
299,622
292,013
5,948
44,434
47,165
3,317
1,318,080
1,227,941
7,945
7,257
6,496
0,308
102,290
97,484
7.3
7.8
8.0
7,303
48,634
44,358
3.5
3.7
3.6
9,159
178,845
153,873
13.9
13.6
12.6
5,965
861,731
816,602
66.0
65.4
66.5
9,051
8,162
7,498
0.7
0.6
0.6
9,110
86,755
80,304
6.5
6.6
6.5
2,421
31,663
27,822
2.4
2.4
2.3
ence.
(1)
Total persons sentenced
Total offenders sentenced
 
55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
England and Wales  
Persons sent
Offence group
September 
2002
September 
2003
September 
2004
September 
2005
September 
2006
September 
2007
September 
2008
September 
2009
September 
2010
September 
2011
Se
Violence against the person
11,718
11,324
12,190
12,842
12,491
12,325
13,109
14,053
14,040
14,120
Sexual offences
2,560
2,457
2,770
2,777
2,766
2,802
2,954
2,913
3,220
3,463
Burglary
13,281
12,028
11,236
9,846
9,196
9,266
9,711
10,035
10,118
11,574
Robbery
5,573
5,473
5,012
4,576
4,709
4,713
5,031
5,240
4,879
5,379
Theft and handling stolen goods
28,259
25,894
23,427
20,817
19,954
18,999
21,124
20,260
21,396
22,548
Fraud and forgery
3,719
3,833
4,240
4,297
4,546
4,938
5,738
5,423
4,945
4,395
Criminal damage
1,202
1,190
1,239
1,303
1,329
1,323
1,200
1,051
1,110
1,112
Drug offences
8,394
8,169
7,964
7,924
7,608
7,759
9,363
9,259
9,844
9,619
Other (excl motoring offences)
8,143
8,414
10,045
10,714
10,216
8,747
8,968
10,436
11,075
11,145
Indictable motoring offences
2,151
2,343
2,293
2,113
1,805
1,556
1,441
1,337
1,175
1,108
All indictable offences
85,000
81,125
80,416
77,209
74,620
72,428
78,639
80,007
81,802
84,463
Summary non-motoring offences
9,474
9,317
10,763
11,928
12,511
12,863
14,140
14,824
14,339
14,506
Summary motoring offences
17,024
17,187
15,847
13,484
10,750
8,090
6,819
5,519
4,167
3,321
All summary offences
26,498
26,504
26,610
25,412
23,261
20,953
20,959
20,343
18,506
17,827
All offences
111,498
107,629
107,026
102,621
97,881
93,381
99,598
100,350
100,308
102,290
England and Wales  
Average custodial sentence 
enced
ptember 
2012
13,789
3,418
11,749
5,206
21,812
3,941
1,026
9,119
9,938
1,125
81,123
13,414
2,947
16,361
97,484
length(1)
Offence group
September 
2002
September 
2003
September 
2004
September 
2005
September 
2006
September 
2007
September 
2008
September 
2009
September 
2010
September 
2011
Se
Violence against the person
17.5
18.5
18.7
18.4
17.0
16.9
16.8
17.6
18.2
17.9
Sexual offences
39.5
39.7
39.6
41.8
41.1
42.6
43.5
47.1
48.4
53.1
Burglary
17.2
17.3
17.3
17.7
17.1
16.8
17.3
18.1
18.7
18.9
Robbery
38.0
39.7
38.5
35.9
32.8
30.6
33.1
33.1
34.1
35.7
Theft and handling stolen goods
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.3
4.2
3.9
4.2
4.2
4.2
Fraud and forgery
8.5
8.6
8.7
10.5
10.5
10.4
10.5
10.6
10.8
12.3
Criminal damage
16.5
16.5
15.7
16.8
12.5
12.6
14.5
17.8
18.0
19.0
Drug offences
34.1
35.4
36.7
36.0
34.4
32.4
32.7
31.9
31.4
30.7
Other (excl motoring offences)
9.9
9.7
8.8
9.5
8.7
9.6
10.5
10.1
9.6
10.1
Indictable motoring offences
8.3
8.2
8.8
8.7
8.7
9.0
9.3
9.3
9.4
9.6
All indictable offences
15.2
15.8
15.9
16.2
15.2
15.2
15.7
16.2
16.4
16.8
Summary non-motoring offences
2.7
2.7
2.8
2.8
2.8
2.7
2.7
2.6
2.6
2.5
Summary motoring offences
3.4
3.5
3.5
3.4
3.4
3.3
3.2
3.1
3.1
3.1
All summary offences
3.2
3.2
3.2
3.1
3.1
3.0
2.9
2.8
2.7
2.6
All offences
12.4
12.7
12.7
12.9
12.3
12.4
13.0
13.4
13.8
14.3
(1) Excludes life and indeterminate sentences.
(2) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July and August 2008.
12 months ending
Table Q5.5 - Persons sentenced to immediate custody and average custodial sentence length
ptember 
2012
20.1
54.2
19.1
35.6
4.3
13.0
21.9
29.6
11.0
9.8
17.4
2.6
3.1
2.7
14.9
(1) at all courts by offence group, 12 months ending September
to 12 months ending September 2012(2)
12 months ending
 2002 
 
56

 
57
Englan
Perso
All o
Total
Num
Perce
Up to
Ov
Ov
12 mo
Ov
Ov
Over 3 y
4 yea
Over 4 y
Over 5 y
Ov
Inde
Life
Avera
Indi
Total
Num
Perce
Up to
Ov
Ov
12 mo
Ov
Ov
Over 3 y
4 yea
Over 4 y
Over 5 y
Ov
Inde
Life
Avera
(1) Ex
(2) Ex
(3) S
Table  
d and Wales  
ns given immediate custody and sentence length
September 2002
September 
2003
September 
2004
September 
2005
September 
2006
September 
2007
September 
2008
September 
2009
September 
2010
September 
2011
September 
2012
ffences
 persons sentenced  
1,380,860
1,449,430
1,553,311
1,486,783
1,426,725
1,406,484
1,364,122
1,390,057
1,365,372
1,310,823
1,221,445
ber given immediate custody
111,498
107,629
107,026
102,621
97,881
93,381
99,598
100,350
100,308
102,290
97,484
ntage given immediate custody (%)
8.1
7.4
6.9
6.9
6.9
6.6
7.3
7.2
7.3
7.8
8.0
 and including 3 months
42,819
40,860
40,103
37,448
35,734
33,438
36,095
36,484
36,875
37,733
34,593
er 3 months and up to and including 6 months
29,457
29,174
29,045
27,121
25,220
22,902
22,914
21,463
20,197
19,824
18,787
er 6 months and less than 12 months
5,743
5,372
5,556
5,889
5,751
5,898
6,800
7,169
7,126
7,234
7,324
nths
5,676
5,294
5,203
5,416
5,322
5,412
5,578
5,783
5,650
5,812
5,172
er 12 months and up to and including 18 months
6,999
6,487
6,472
6,377
6,204
6,206
6,601
7,142
7,403
7,691
7,668
er 18 months and up to and including 3 years
11,116
10,638
10,604
10,653
10,327
10,375
11,198
11,866
12,470
12,746
12,911
ears and less than 4 years
1,933
1,866
2,040
1,870
1,568
1,440
1,568
1,775
1,912
2,006
1,932
rs
2,185
2,136
2,201
1,896
1,575
1,558
1,850
1,935
1,950
2,088
1,865
ears and up to and including 5 years
2,026
2,090
2,185
2,013
1,678
1,626
1,907
1,995
2,016
2,148
2,012
ears and up to and including 10 years
2,595
2,763
2,706
2,816
2,278
2,058
2,503
2,686
2,850
3,150
3,312
er 10 years and less than life
379
428
374
374
330
296
399
451
505
626
690
terminate sentence(3)
:
:
:
147
1,283
1,687
1,691
1,132
959
867
792
570
521
537
601
611
485
494
469
395
365
426
ge custodial sentence length (months)(1)
12.4
12.7
12.7
12.9
12.3
12.4
13.0
13.4
13.8
14.3
14.9
ctable offences
 persons sentenced  
331,615
333,828
321,374
304,593
305,304
305,807
313,500
324,957
341,509
342,030
309,498
ber given immediate custody
85,000
81,125
80,416
77,209
74,620
72,428
78,639
80,007
81,802
84,463
81,123
ntage given immediate custody (%)
25.6
24.3
25.0
25.3
24.4
23.7
25.1
24.6
24.0
24.7
26.2
 and including 3 months
28,264
26,590
25,863
23,840
23,080
21,672
23,745
23,870
25,056
26,138
24,239
er 3 months and up to and including 6 months
17,519
16,946
16,678
15,321
14,629
13,721
14,314
13,764
13,554
13,604
12,780
er 6 months and less than 12 months
5,739
5,368
5,554
5,886
5,749
5,895
6,794
7,154
7,100
7,227
7,324
nths
5,675
5,293
5,202
5,415
5,318
5,410
5,576
5,774
5,640
5,810
5,172
er 12 months and up to and including 18 months
6,999
6,486
6,472
6,377
6,201
6,206
6,600
7,137
7,398
7,690
7,668
er 18 months and up to and including 3 years
11,116
10,638
10,604
10,653
10,322
10,375
11,198
11,865
12,467
12,744
12,911
ears and less than 4 years
1,933
1,866
2,040
1,870
1,567
1,440
1,568
1,775
1,912
2,006
1,932
rs
2,185
2,136
2,201
1,896
1,575
1,558
1,850
1,935
1,950
2,088
1,865
ears and up to and including 5 years
2,026
2,090
2,185
2,013
1,678
1,626
1,907
1,995
2,016
2,148
2,012
ears and up to and including 10 years
2,595
2,763
2,706
2,816
2,277
2,058
2,503
2,686
2,850
3,150
3,312
er 10 years and less than life
379
428
374
374
330
296
399
451
505
626
690
terminate sentence(3)
:
:
:
147
1,283
1,686
1,691
1,132
959
867
792
570
521
537
601
611
485
494
469
395
365
426
ge custodial sentence length (months)(1)
15.2
15.8
15.9
16.2
15.2
15.2
15.7
16.2
16.4
16.8
17.4
cludes life and indeterminate sentences.
cludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July and August 2008.
entences of imprisonment for public protection introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 on 4 April 2005.
Persons sentenced
 Q5.6 - Persons sentenced to immediate custody at all courts by length of sentence and average custodial sentence length(1), 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending 
September 2012(2)
12 months ending

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
England and Wales
Sentence
September 
2002
September 
2003
September 
2004
September 
2005
September 
2006
September 
2007
September 
2008
September 
2009
September 
2010
Sept
S90-92 PCC(S) Act 2000
703
537
522
512
448
408
457
439
418
Detention and training order
6,818
5,877
5,722
5,643
5,510
5,325
5,006
4,707
3,837
Young offender institution
1
2
8
-
-
-
-
Extended sentence for public 
protection
*
*
*
39
114
97
77
15
11
Indeterminate sentence for public 
protection (IPP)
*
*
*
9
46
64
70
38
36
Total immediate custody
7,522
6,416
6,252
6,203
6,118
5,894
5,610
5,199
4,302
Community sentences
Community rehabilitation orde
Juveniles sentenced
ember 
2011
September 
2012
385
344
3,625
2,874
-
-
-
-
28
8
28
34
4,066
3,260
r
2,377
2,280
2,160
1,915
1,594
1,832
1,771
1,614
733
Supervision orde
55
15
r
10,840
9,905
10,129
10,366
11,000
12,118
10,094
8,573
3,409
Community punishment orde
85
23
r
3,556
2,829
2,624
2,531
1,965
1,865
1,797
1,661
599
Attendance centre orde
13
0
r
4,060
2,804
2,806
2,788
2,789
3,060
2,833
2,431
825
Community punishment and   
rehabilitation order
1,680
1,533
1,329
1,302
1,159
1,327
1,322
1,566
757
Curfew order
2,138
2,687
3,761
4,207
4,150
4,553
5,115
5,991
2,546
Reparation orde
105
66
23
0
401
80
r
6,129
3,174
3,070
3,153
3,646
3,970
4,122
3,707
2,819
Action plan order
7,121
4,441
4,386
4,710
4,934
4,953
4,140
3,651
897
Drug treatment and testing orde
1,251
679
14
0
r
73
71
55
43
11
11
5
3
-
Referral order
(2)
12,955
25,682
25,683
28,830
30,010
32,144
29,955
28,571
26,535
Community order(3)
*
*
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
Youth Rehabilitation orde
-
1
22,367
17,458
9
-
-
r
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
9,999
Total community sentences
50,929
55,406
56,003
59,845
61,258
65,833
61,154
57,768
49,178
0
Other sentences
Absolute or conditional discharge
14,781
14,248
12,978
12,116
11,845
12,059
11,211
10,296
10,072
Fine
17,603
12,418
16,178
14,397
12,197
10,612
9,495
8,216
6,928
Suspended sentence
(4)
-
-
-
1
2
1
-
Otherwise dealt with 
4,115
3,737
4,572
3,402
2,875
2,929
2,856
2,523
4,985
Total other sentences
36,499
30,403
33,728
29,916
26,919
25,601
23,562
21,035
21,985
Total sentenced
94,950
92,225
95,983
95,964
94,295
97,328
90,326
84,002
75,465
(1) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July and August 2008.
(2) Referral orders now include numbers of extension of referral orders, and may therefore not be the same as previously published figures.
(3) Community orders were introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for offences committed from 4 April 2005.
(4) Suspended sentences are not available for juveniles. 
Immediate custodial sentences
12 months ending
Table Q5.7 - Juveniles sentenced for all offences by type of sentence (detailed), 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending Septembe
18,660
15,052
42,974
33,374
9,097
7,175
5,454
3,979
-
-
-
-
3,920
2,237
18,471
13,391
65,511
50,025
r 2012(1)
 
58

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
England and Wales
Sentence
September 
2002
September 
2003
September 
2004
September 
2005
September 
2006
September 
2007
September 
2008
September 
2009
Septem
201
S90-92 PCC(S) Act 2000
-
7
6
10
14
7
10
17
Young offender institution
17,775
15,622
14,798
14,264
13,664
13,552
13,471
13,734
13,39
Unsuspended imprisonment
85,912
84,816
84,754
80,501
75,379
71,189
78,159
79,945
81,22
Extended sentence of imprisonment 
(EPP)
289
768
1,141
1,321
1,361
1,108
727
361
4
Indeterminate sentence for public 
protection (IPP)
*
*
*
138
1,237
1,623
1,621
1,094
9
Intermittent custod
Adults sentenced
ber 
0
September 
2011
September 
2012
9
6
6
1
11,721
10,402
7
85,093
82,645
56
565
413
23
839
758
y
*
*
75
184
108
8
Total immediate custody
103,976
101,213
100,774
96,418
91,763
87,487
93,988
95,151
96,00
Community sentences
Community rehabilitation orde
-
-
-
-
-
6
98,224
94,224
r
60,111
62,004
58,854
43,455
4,451
552
224
195
14
Community punishment orde
6
38
16
r
46,520
47,894
50,319
41,363
6,857
842
402
227
12
Attendance centre order
494
509
639
588
357
296
220
197
19
Community punishment and   
rehabilitation order
12,875
13,775
14,385
12,289
1,867
326
167
154
12
Curfew orde
2
20
10
8
97
46
2
5
2
r
3,259
6,004
10,284
9,669
2,911
1,880
1,590
1,351
8
Drug treatment and testing orde
04
634
287
r
4,991
6,470
8,115
7,385
693
48
7
-
Referral order(2)
*
44
19
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Community order(3)
*
*
*
28,784
117,015
123,932
126,828
137,973
138,58
Total community sentences
128,250
136,700
142,615
143,533
134,151
127,876
129,438
140,097
139,98
Other sentences
Absolute or conditional discharge
101,134
107,239
103,445
93,967
89,497
90,334
89,387
82,094
87,98
Fine
925,166
982,811
1,072,434
1,017,375
953,260
929,851
878,396
919,829
891,22
Suspended sentence(4)
2,622
2,681
2,738
6,080
28,544
39,460
41,733
43,876
47,30
Otherwise dealt with 
24,762
26,561
35,322
33,446
35,215
34,148
40,854
25,008
27,41
Total other sentences
1,053,683
1,119,292
1,213,939
1,150,868
1,106,516
1,093,793
1,050,370
1,070,807
1,053,92
Total sentenced
1,285,909
1,357,204
1,457,328
1,390,819
1,332,430
1,309,156
1,273,796
1,306,055
1,289,90
(1) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July and August 2008.
(2) Referral orders now include numbers of extension of referral orders, and may therefore not be the same as previously published figures.
(3) Community orders were introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for offences committed from 4 April 2005.
(4) Fully suspended sentence for offences committed prior to 4 April 2005, suspended sentence order for offences committed from 4 April 2005.
Immediate custodial sentences
Table Q5.8 - Adults sentenced for all offences by type of sentence (detailed), 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending September 
1
1
-
8
135,076
120,138
1
135,871
120,499
0
85,732
80,550
6
849,131
806,230
3
48,634
44,358
1
27,720
25,559
0
1,011,217
956,697
7
1,245,312
1,171,420
2012(1)
12 months ending
 
59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
England and Wales
Offence type / group
Total
White
Black
Indictable offences
Absolute discharge
1,620
1,282
129
Conditional discharge
38,772
31,080
2,604
Fine
53,331
38,628
5,362
Community sentence
86,026
65,897
7,852
Suspended sentence
31,886
23,595
2,409
Immediate custody
81,123
58,354
8,476
Otherwise dealt with
16,740
12,373
1,881
Total
309,498
231,209
28,713
(1)  Includes cases reported to the Ministry of Justice as sex ' not stated'.
Ethnicity
Table Q5.9 - Persons(1) sentenced at all courts for indictable offences by ethnicity an
September 2012
Persons sentenced
Asian
Other
Unknown
45
16
148
1,112
403
3,573
2,653
598
6,090
3,733
1,056
7,488
1,588
714
3,580
4,687
2,392
7,214
809
234
1,443
14,627
5,413
29,536
d result, 12 months ending 
 
60

Offences  
 
This chapter differs from the others in the publication by counting on an all offences 
basis, as opposed to a principal offence basis.  
 
Courts and the police typically deal with defendants charged with more than one 
offence, for example in the 12 months ending September 2012 each convicted 
offender was convicted of an average of 1.4 offences. 
 
This average rate of offences per convicted offender has decreased slightly year on 
year since the 12 months ending September 2003, when it stood at an average of 1.7 
offences per convicted offender. 
 
Cautions (all offence basis) 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 231,200 cautions issued for all 
offences, a decrease of 11.7 per cent from 261,800 in the 12 months ending 
September 2011. This decrease continues the downward trend observed since the 
peak of 401,300 offences cautioned in 12 months ending September 2007. 
 
There were 120,700 cautions for indictable offences in the 12 months ending 
September 2012, a 13.8 per cent decrease on the previous year.  This continues the 
decreasing trend observed in the 11 year series since the peak of 226,500 cautions 
for indictable offence in the 12 months ending September 2007.  
 
The remaining 110,600 cautions in the 12 months ending September 2012 were for 
summary non-motoring offences, a 9.2 per cent decrease on the previous year.  
 
Indictable offences accounted for 52.2 per cent of cautions (120,600) in the 12 
months ending September 2012. This proportion has been broadly declining since a 
peak of 63.4 per cent in 12 months ending September 2002. 
 
Convictions (all offences basis) 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 1.72 million convicted 
offences, a decrease of 6.4 per cent from 1.83 million in the 12 months ending 
September 2011. Since a peak over the last 11 years of 2.58 million in the 12 months 
ending September 2004, there have been year on year decreases in total convicted 
offences, with an overall fall of 33.5 per cent when comparing the 12 months ending 
September 2012 total with the 12 months ending September 2004.  
 
The decrease has been driven in the main by convictions for summary motoring 
offences, which have fallen by 56.3 per cent between the 12 months ending 
September 2004 and the 12 months ending September 2012 (from 1.35 million to 
589,800). 
 
Indictable offences accounted for 31.6 per cent of convicted offences in the 12 
months ending September 2012. This represented a slight increase on the 12 
months ending September 2011 (31.5 per cent) and a continuation of an increasing 
trend observed since the 12 months ending September 2004 (22.7 per cent) due to 
the decrease in summary motoring convictions. 
 
 
61

Summary motoring offences accounted for 34.4 per cent of all offences in the 12 
months ending September 2012, a series low over the last 11 years.  In the series 
peak of the 12 months ending September 2004, summary motoring offences 
accounted for 52.3 per cent of all offences, with the proportion having fallen year on 
year since. 
 
Offences Brought to Justice (notifiable offences) 
 
One measure of justice outcomes is Offences Brought to Justice (OBTJ). An offence 
is said to have been brought to justice when a ‘notifiable offence’8 results in an 
offender being convicted, cautioned, issued with a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) 
or a cannabis warning, or having an offence taken into consideration at court.   
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 1.12 million OBTJs, a 
decrease of 8.6 per cent from 1.22 million in the 12 months ending September 2011.  
Recorded crime totals fell by 7.1 per cent over the same period. 
 
Offences brought to justice increased from 1.02 million in 12 months ending 
September 2002 to a series high of 1.45 million in the 12 months ending September 
2007.  The total has been steadily falling since the 12 months ending September 
2008.  
 
Cautions and convictions account for the vast majority (82.0 per cent) of all OBTJs in 
the 12 months ending September 2012. 
 
The decline in the use of out of court disposals coincided with the replacement in 
April 2008 of a target to increase offences brought to justice, with one placing more 
emphasis on bringing serious crime to justice.  The latter target was subsequently 
removed in May 2010. 
 
 
Convictions accounted for 62.6 per cent of all OBTJs in the 12 months ending 
September 2012, similar to the proportion as in 12 months ending September 2011 
(60.9 per cent). The proportion declined from a peak of 68.5 per cent in 12 months 
ending September 2003 to 48.8 per cent in 12 months ending September 2007, 
followed by a year on year increase to 12 months ending September 2012. This trend 
is driven by the patterns in the use of out of court disposals. 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, the main offence groups which make up 
OBTJs were violence against the person (27.7 per cent), theft and handling stolen 
goods (25.4 per cent) and drug offences (19.9 per cent). 
 
The proportion of all OBTJs accounted for by violence against the person has 
increased by 5.7 percentage points since 12 months ending September 2002. 
Similarly, drug offences have increased in proportion by 7.7 percentage points since 
the 12 months ending September 2002.  However, over the same period, theft and 
handling stolen goods decreased by 8.5 percentage points. 
                                                
8 Notifiable offences are those offences which require the police to record an incident as a crime and 
report the occurrence to the Home Office. 
 
62

 
Table 6.1 - Cautions administered by offence group, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
England and Wales
Number of offences (thousands) 
Offence group
Sep 2002
Sep 2003
Sep 2004
Sep 2005
Sep 2006
Sep 2007
Sep 2008
Sep 2009
Sep 2010
Sep 2011
Sep 2012
Violence against the person
23.1
28.9
36.1
48.8
59.5
56.3
44.2
30.1
23.7
19.0
14.4
Sexual offences
1.3
1.4
1.6
1.9
2.1
2.1
1.9
1.7
1.5
1.7
1.6
Burglary
6.3
6.0
6.0
6.9
8.1
7.9
6.3
5.0
3.9
3.9
3.1
Robbery
0.5
0.5
0.4
0.6
0.7
0.7
0.5
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.2
Theft and handling stolen goods
64.5
59.8
68.3
75.5
80.8
85.1
74.1
71.9
56.5
50.6
41.9
Fraud and forgery
6.5
6.7
7.0
7.8
9.2
9.7
9.4
8.2
7.1
6.4
5.8
Criminal damage
3.6
3.8
5.4
7.2
9.6
9.9
9.0
7.2
5.6
5.2
4.3
Drug offences
44.7
47.0
38.5
35.3
39.2
44.0
49.4
47.5
43.8
45.7
43.6
Other indictable offences
4.7
5.3
6.2
6.9
9.3
10.7
9.5
8.6
7.5
7.2
5.8
Summary non-motoring offences
89.8
94.3
108.2
121.0
152.8
174.8
165.8
149.0
127.2
121.8
110.6
All offences(6)
245.1
253.6
277.9
311.9
371.3
401.3
370.1
329.5
276.9
261.8
231.2
(1) Excluding all motoring offences.
(2) Includes reprimands and final warnings for juveniles (e.g. those aged 10 to 17).
(3) On an all offence basis.
(4) Cautions data for Dyfed Powys and Lancashire for December 2010 have been sourced from Police National Computer.
(5) All cautions data from January 2011 have been sourced from the Police National Computer.
(6) May not sum due to rounding.
12 months ending
 
 
63

 
 
Table 6.2 - Convictions by offence group, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012(1)(2)
England and Wales
Number of offences (thousands)
Offence group
Sep 2002
Sep 2003
Sep 2004
Sep 2005
Sep 2006
Sep 2007
Sep 2008
Sep 2009
Sep 2010
Sep 2011
Sep 2012
Violence against the person
49.6
51.4
52.9
53.8
55.7
55.1
53.7
57.3
58.8
58.4
52.7
Sexual offences
13.0
12.1
13.6
14.3
14.7
15.5
15.7
16.5
17.8
19.7
19.8
Burglary
36.9
35.9
34.3
31.7
30.9
32.2
31.7
31.7
31.1
32.1
30.7
Robbery
11.5
11.8
11.5
11.0
11.8
13.1
12.8
13.0
12.2
12.5
12.5
Theft and handling stolen goods
197.5
190.0
177.9
163.7
158.8
160.0
xx-xxxx-xxxx
178.8
176.3
176.5
173.8
Fraud and forgery
44.7
43.6
44.9
43.9
42.8
40.3
44.5
51.1
53.4
49.9
43.2
Criminal damage
17.8
18.2
19.4
19.3
21.1
20.7
16.1
12.8
12.0
10.9
9.5
Drug offences
78.2
85.0
73.9
68.2
70.9
71.7
84.6
89.1
96.7
96.3
90.4
Other indictable offences
126.2
139.1
144.3
134.0
125.2
120.6
117.1
119.7
124.2
116.3
106.3
Indictable motoring offences
13.3
14.1
13.5
10.5
9.4
8.0
7.8
5.1
4.4
4.1
3.9
Summary non-motoring offences
566.7
593.8
646.8
627.5
610.6
605.4
607.3
634.1
613.9
602.3
583.8
Summary motoring offences
1,150.0
1,243.7
1,350.2
1,234.8
1,105.7
972.7
843.8
803.7
735.9
654.6
589.8
All offences(3)
2,305.5
2,438.7
2,583.0
2,412.6
2,257.6
2,115.3
2,003.7
2,012.9
1,936.6
1,833.6
1,716.5
(1) On an all offence basis.
(2) Excludes convictions data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July, and August 2008.
(3) May not sum due to rounding.
12 months ending
 
64

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
England and Wales
Number of offences (thousands)
Penalty
Formal
Offences taken
notices
 warnings
 into 
for
for cannabis
Total
Recorded 
12 months ending
consideration(2)
disorder(3)
possession(4)
Cautions(5)(6)
Convictions(7)
OBTJs
crimes(8)
Sep 2002
97.9
*
*
224.3
702.1
1,024.7
5,787.3
Sep 2003
96.9
3.1
*
231.3
719.5
1,050.8
5,931.9
Sep 2004
102.4
15.7
10.6
258.3
713.0
1,100.0
5,791.0
Sep 2005
112.8
85.0
42.6
297.1
695.6
1,233.0
5,580.1
Sep 2006
120.6
131.8
73.1
358.0
698.2
1,381.7
5,491.0
Sep 2007
113.2
150.5
92.1
387.9
709.5
1,453.3
5,213.5
Sep 2008
105.2
121.9
104.3
355.4
729.5
1,416.3
4,837.9
Sep 2009
91.6
115.3
95.1
316.0
755.1
1,373.1
4,554.3
Sep 2010
75.0
95.6
82.3
259.8
762.1
1,274.9
4,223.2
Sep 2011(9)
72.0
82.9
79.2
243.2
744.2
1,221.4
4,053.4
Sep 2012
61.4
68.2
71.6
216.2
699.3
1,116.6
3,764.9
'*' = Not applicable
(1) Data for British Transport Police have been included for year ending September 2012 only.
(3) Piloted in 2002 and introduced nationally in 2004.
(4) Introduced in April 2004.
(5) Cautions data for Dyfed Powys and Lancashire for December 2010 have been sourced from Police National Computer.
(6) All cautions data from January 2011 have been sourced from the Police National Computer.
(7) Excludes convictions data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July, and August 2008. 
(9) Previously published data have been revised.
Offences brought to justice (OBTJ)
Table 6.3 - Number of offences brought to justice (notifiable) over a 12 month period by outcome and numbers of recorded crimes, 12 
months ending September 2002 - 2012(1)
(2) Offences taken into consideration by the court and previously recorded by the police, figures for April 2004 onwards include offences not 
previously recorded.
(8) The introduction of the National Crime Recording Standards (NCRS) in April 2002 resulted in significant increases in the number of crimes 
Note - figures for cannabis warnings & offences taken into consideration appearing in this publication are provisional and may be revised following 
Home Office validation.  National Statistics for the financial year 2011/12 are expected to be published during 2012 by the Home Office.
 
 
65

 
Table 6.4 - Number of offences brought to justice (notifiable) by offence group, 12 months ending September 2002 - 2012(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)
England and Wales
Number of offences (thousands)
Offence group
Sep 2002
Sep 2003
Sep 2004
Sep 2005
Sep 2006
Sep 2007
Sep 2008
Sep 2009
Sep 2010
Sep 2011
Sep 2012
Violence against the person
225.2
249.2
291.7
375.0
442.0
470.8
432.9
400.0
368.7
345.3
309.5
Sexual offences
16.0
15.1
15.9
16.1
16.8
17.0
16.8
17.1
18.0
19.4
19.2
Burglary
80.6
79.2
74.8
72.4
77.2
75.0
72.9
68.0
62.8
63.1
56.4
Robbery
13.5
13.6
12.9
12.7
14.0
15.2
14.3
13.9
13.0
13.5
13.4
Theft and handling stolen goods
347.8
332.5
344.5
339.8
362.7
377.0
360.6
361.8
323.0
307.4
283.8
Fraud and forgery
77.9
75.2
74.1
75.9
67.9
60.5
64.6
66.1
64.4
59.7
51.6
Criminal damage
94.2
99.1
113.2
131.6
153.5
xx-xxxx-xxxx
144.8
128.5
107.4
97.8
86.2
Drug offences
124.8
131.3
116.0
147.3
184.3
208.9
239.3
239.7
235.8
235.9
222.0
Other offences
44.5
55.5
56.9
62.2
63.5
64.9
70.0
78.0
81.9
79.4
74.4
All offences(6)
1,024.7
1,050.8
1,100.0
1,233.0
1,381.7
1,453.3
1,416.3
1,373.1
1,274.9
1,221.4
1,116.4
(1) Data for British Transport Police have been included for year ending June 2012 only.
(2) Includes estimates for incomplete data.
(3) Excludes convictions data for Cardiff magistrates' court for April, July, and August 2008. 
(4) Cautions data for Dyfed Powys and Lancashire for December 2010 have been sourced from Police National Computer.
(5) All cautions data from January 2011 have been sourced from the Police National Computer.
(6) May not sum due to rounding.
12 months ending
 
66

Offending histories 
 
Information presented in this section differs from previous sections on convictions, 
cautions and sentencing, in that all information in this section is taken from the Police 
National Computer (PNC). The main difference is that the PNC does not include a 
range of less serious summary offences (such as TV licence evasion and a range of 
motoring offences) and so the figures reported are not comparable or match figures 
reported in the previous sections of this bulletin. The PNC is the police’s 
administrative IT system, which as with any large scale recording system, is subject 
to possible errors with data entry and processing.  The figures are provisional and 
subject to change as more information is recorded by the police. 
 
This section provides an overview of the changing structure of the known offending 
population with information on the breakdown of offences committed by new 
offenders and repeat offenders, the trends in new entrants to the criminal justice 
system, and breakdowns of the criminal histories of cautioned and sentenced 
offenders. 
 
Key points in the 12 months ending September 2012: 
 
 
There were 187,700 first time entrants to the criminal justice system 
(offenders who received their first conviction or caution). This is down 13 per 
cent from the year ending September 2011 and 44 per cent from the 332,800 
first time entrants in the year ending September 2007.  
 
 
The reduction in the number of first time entrants seen over the last five years 
has been much sharper for juveniles, down 71.5 per cent since the year 
ending September 2007, than for adults, down 30 per cent in the same 
period.  
 
 
The rate of first time entrants per head of population has also fallen 
substantially amongst juveniles, down from a little over 2,000 per 100,000 
population in the 12 months ending September 2007 to an equivalent figure of 
595 in the most recent period. However, although the gap is narrowing, the 
rate still remains substantially higher for juveniles than for adults.  
 
 
Around 4 times as many juvenile first time entrants receive a reprimand or 
warning from the police than are convicted by a criminal court. Amongst adult 
first time entrants, the proportions receiving a caution and being convicted are 
roughly equal.  
 
 
15 per cent of juveniles sentenced for indictable offences were first time 
entrants, while 65 per cent had between one and six previous convictions, 
reprimands or warnings and four per cent had over 15 previous convictions, 
reprimands or warnings. Amongst adults, nine per cent were first time 
entrants, while 36 per cent had 15 or more previous convictions or cautions.  
 
 
The proportion of juveniles sentenced for indictable offences with 15 or more 
previous convictions, reprimands or warnings has fallen slightly since the year 
ending September 2011, but is up around three percentage points over the 
last 10 years. Amongst adults, the proportion with 15 or more previous 
convictions or cautions has increased 14 percentage points over the last 10 
years.  
 
 
67

 
39 per cent of offenders sentenced for indictable offences with 15 or more 
previous convictions or cautions were sentenced to immediate custody while 
20 per cent were given a community sentence. This compares to 26 per cent 
and 35 per cent respectively for those first time entrants sentenced.  
. 
First offences and further offences 
 
An offence is defined as a first offence if it results in the offender receiving their first 
reprimand, warning, caution or conviction – i.e. they have no previous criminal history 
recorded on the PNC. Offences resulting in further reprimands, warnings, cautions or 
convictions are known as further offences since the offender already has a recorded 
criminal history on the PNC.  
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, a total of 782,7009 first offences and 
further offences were recorded on the PNC, a decrease of 8.5 per cent compared 
with 855,500 recorded in the 12 months ending September 2011. Of these recorded 
offences:  
 
 
First offences accounted for 24.0 per cent (187,700), a fall of around one 
percentage point compared with the 12 months ending September 2011;  
 
 
Further offences accounted for 76.0 per cent (595,000), a rise of around one 
percentage point compared with the 12 months ending September 2011. 
 
Figure 7.1 shows the breakdown of all proven offences recorded in the 12 months 
ending September 2012. The percentages in the diagram relate to the total number 
of offences committed in the top box of the figure. 
 
 
16.8 per cent of first offences (31,600 out of 187,700 first offences) are committed 
by juveniles, compared to 9.1 per cent of further offences (54,100 out of 595,000 
further offences); 
 
 
Juveniles received 17.0 per cent of cautions, reprimands and warnings compared 
to 8.8 per cent of convictions. 
                                                
9 When an offender has been cautioned or convicted of several offences on the same occasion only one 
offence has been counted; the figures therefore represent counts of separate cautioning or sentencing 
occasions as recorded on the PNC rather than counts of every proven offence. This means that the first 
offence figures described here are equal to the figures for first time entrants described below 
 
68

 
 
Figure 7.1:   First offences and further offences of all offenders, recorded on 
the Police National Computer, 12 months ending September 2012, 
England and Wales 
 
 
 
Offences dealt with by reprimand, warning, 
caution or conviction 
782,698 (100%) 
First offences 
187,692 (24%) 
Further offences 
595,006 (76%) 
Caution, 
reprimand, or 
warning 
103,683 (13%)
 
Conviction 
84,009 (11%) 
Caution, 
reprimand, or 
warning 
103,513 (13%) 
 
Conviction 
491,493 (63%)
 
 
 
Juveniles 
25,186
(3%)
Juveniles 
6,411
(1%) 
Juveniles 
9,991
(1%
Juveniles 
44,153
(6%)
 
 
 
 
) 
 
 
Adults 
78,497
(10%)
Adults 
77,598
(10%) 
Adults 
93,522
(12%
Adults 
447,340
(57%) 
 
 
 
 
) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figures 7.2 and 7.3 present the trends since 2002 of first and further offences as 
recorded on the PNC. Figure 7.2 shows the peak for juveniles in 2007 and the 
subsequent large falls in offending which are associated with the removal of a target 
in April 2008 to increase offences brought to justice and a move towards bringing 
more serious crimes to justice. Figure 7.3 shows a different pattern for adults, with 
first time entrants falling back after the peak in 2007, further offending continuing to 
rise until the end of September 2011 and slightly falling in the 12 months to the end 
of September 2012. 
 
69

 
Figure 7.2:  Number of juvenile first and further offences, 12 months 
ending September 2002 to 12 months ending September 
2012, England and Wales 
 
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Number of reprimand / warning / sentencing occasions
12 month period to the end of September
First offences
Further offences
Total
 
 
Figure 7.3:  Number of adult first and further offences, 12 months ending 
September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012, 
England and Wales 
 
 
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Number of cautioning / sentencing occasions
12 month period to the end of September
First offences
Further offences
Total
 
70

First time entrants to Criminal Justice system 
 
First time entrants to the criminal justice system are classified as offenders, resident 
in England or  Wales, who received their first reprimand, warning, caution or 
conviction, based on data recorded by the police on the PNC. These PNC recorded 
offences exclude a range of less serious summary offences. 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, there were 187,700 first time entrants 
(FTEs) to the criminal justice system as recorded on the PNC, a decrease of 12.8 per 
cent compared to the 12 months period ending September 2011, and 29.9 per cent 
when compared with the 12 months period ending September 2002. 
 
 
Juvenile first time entrants accounted for 16.8 per cent (31,600) of all first time 
entrants, a fall of two percentage points compared with the 12 months ending 
September 2011, and 15 percentage points when compared with the 12 months 
ending September 2002. Of these: 
 
o The rate per 100,000 of population has fallen 25.1 per cent from 794 to 
595 over the last 12 months and 62.0 per cent from 1,566 when compared 
with the 12 months ending September 2002.  
 
 
Adult first time entrants to the criminal justice system in the 12 months ending 
September 2012 accounted for 83.2 per cent (156,100) of all the new entrants, an 
increase of two percentage points compared to the 12 months ending September 
2011, and an increase of 15 percentage points when compared with the 12 
months ending September 2002. Of these: 
  
o The rate per 100,000 of population has fallen 11.6 per cent from 400 to 
353 over the last 12 months and 21.7 per cent from 451 when compared 
with the 12 months ending September 2002.  
 
 
The decline in the use of reprimands, warnings and cautions in dealing with FTEs 
is consistent with the reduction in the use of these disposals for all offenders and 
coincides with the increasing focus on more serious offending.  
 
Criminal histories 
 
An offender is counted as having a criminal history if their PNC record shows 
that, at the time of receiving a reprimand, warning, caution or conviction, they had 
previously committed one or more offences that had resulted in one of these 
sanctions. The PNC data excludes a range of less serious summary offences, 
and therefore unlike the section on Offending Histories, this Criminal Histories 
section focuses on the criminal histories of offenders cautioned or sentenced for 
indictable offences only. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
71

Offenders cautioned10 for indictable offences on the PNC [Tables Q7.4, Q7.5 
and Q7k] 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, a total of 109,800 offenders received 
reprimands, warnings or cautions for indictable offences, a decrease of 14.7 per cent 
compared with the 12 months ending September 2011. Of these: 
 
 
50.0 per cent (54,900) have at least one previous convictions or cautions 
recorded compared to 48.4 per cent (62,200) in 12 months ending September 
2011. 
 
 
4.0 per cent (4,400) of offenders who received warnings/reprimands or cautions 
for indictable offences had 15 or more previous convictions or cautions an 
increase of around half a percentage point compared with the 12 months ending 
September 2011, and around three percentage points compared to 12 months 
ending September 2002.  
 
Offenders sentenced for indictable offences on the PNC [Tables Q7.4, Q7.5 and 
Q7l] 
 
In the 12 months ending September 2012, a total of 311,300 offenders were 
sentenced for indictable offences, 5.3 per cent decrease compared with the 12 
months ending September 2011. Of these: 
 
 
9.9 per cent of all offenders sentenced for indictable offences had no previous 
convictions or cautions recorded against them, a fall of less than half a 
percentage point compared to the 12 months ending September 2011, and 
around two percentage points lower than in the 12 months ending September 
2002; 
 
 
33.1 per cent of all offenders sentenced for indictable offences had 15 or more 
previous convictions or cautions recorded against them, an increase of around 
two percentage points against the 12 months ending September 2011 and 14 
percentage points compared with the 12 months ending September 2002.  
   
 
Criminal history by sentence type  
 
The criminal history of offenders receiving different sentences varies by type of 
sentence, which can range from a reprimand, warning or caution to immediate 
custody, with custodial sentences associated with higher levels of previous 
convictions or cautions. In the 12 months ending September 2012: 
 
 
46.9 per cent of adult offenders receiving immediate custodial sentences had 15 
or more previous convictions or cautions, an increase of around two percentage 
point against the 12 months ending September 2011 and around 14 percentage 
points compared with the 12 months ending September 2002.  
 
 
31.1per cent of adult offenders receiving a community sentence had 15 or more 
previous convictions or cautions, an increase of around three percentage points 
against the 12 months ending September 2011 and around 14 percentage points 
compared with the 12 months ending September 2002.  
 
                                                
10 Includes Juveniles receiving reprimands or warnings 
 
72

Table Q7.1  First offences(1) and further offences(2) committed by offenders of 
all ages and resulting in a reprimand, warning, caution or conviction, 12 
months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012, England 
and Wales  
 
 
First 
offences
Further 
offences
Total
First 
offences
Further 
offences
Total
First 
offences
Further 
offences
Total
2002
267,673
569,960
837,633
 
196,846
493,668
690,514
69,448
76,225
145,673
2003
276,336
600,180
876,516
 
203,629
518,192
721,821
71,348
81,880
153,228
2004
286,878
607,441
894,319
 
207,258
522,417
729,675
77,719
84,869
162,588
2005
308,018
597,070
905,088
 
219,830
512,726
732,556
86,156
84,178
170,334
2006
328,827
629,259
958,086
 
234,346
540,491
774,837
92,560
88,492
181,052
2007
332,811
660,568
993,379
 
235,268
566,082
801,350
95,557
94,142
189,699
2008
301,637
679,516
981,153
 
214,538
581,338
795,876
85,101
97,759
182,860
2009
270,103
667,270
937,373
 
190,330
570,940
761,270
77,661
95,885
173,546
2010
238,076
655,364
893,440
 
169,243
562,108
731,351
66,373
92,723
159,096
2011
215,126
640,420
855,546
 
154,351
549,514
703,865
58,178
90,285
148,463
2012
187,692
595,006
782,698
 
135,868
510,974
646,842
49,729
83,308
133,037
2002
32.0
68.0
100.0
28.5
71.5
100.0
47.7
52.3
100.0
2003
31.5
68.5
100.0
28.2
71.8
100.0
46.6
53.4
100.0
2004
32.1
67.9
100.0
28.4
71.6
100.0
47.8
52.2
100.0
2005
34.0
66.0
100.0
30.0
70.0
100.0
50.6
49.4
100.0
2006
34.3
65.7
100.0
30.2
69.8
100.0
51.1
48.9
100.0
2007
33.5
66.5
100.0
29.4
70.6
100.0
50.4
49.6
100.0
2008
30.7
69.3
100.0
27.0
73.0
100.0
46.5
53.5
100.0
2009
28.8
71.2
100.0
25.0
75.0
100.0
44.7
55.3
100.0
2010
26.6
73.4
100.0
23.1
76.9
100.0
41.7
58.3
100.0
2011
25.1
74.9
100.0
21.9
78.1
100.0
39.2
60.8
100.0
2012
24.0
76.0
100.0
21.0
79.0
100.0
37.4
62.6
100.0
(3) Includes offenders whose gender is not recorded on the Police National Computer.
Number of offences and percentages
Males and females(3)
Males
Females
12 month period to 
the end of 
September
Percentage of Total
(1) The first occasion which offenders received reprimand, warning, caution or conviction, where there were multiple offences on the 
same occasions the primary offence as recorded on the Police National Computer would be counted.
Number of offences
(2) The further occasions which offenders received reprimand, warning, caution or conviction, where there were multiple offences on 
the same occasions the primary offence as recorded on the Police National Computer would be counted.
12 month period to 
the end of 
 
 
 
 
73

Table Q7.2 Number of first time entrants to the criminal justice system(1) by 
gender and age group, 12 months ending September 2002 to 12 months ending 
September 2012, England and Wales 
 
Numbers of offenders
Juveniles
Adults
All ages
Juveniles
Adults
All ages
Juveniles
Adults
All ages
2002
84,718
182,955
267,673  
61,166
135,680
196,846  
23,458
45,990
69,448
2003
84,371
191,965
276,336  
61,023
142,606
203,629  
23,245
48,103
71,348
2004
92,528
194,350
286,878  
65,011
142,247
207,258  
27,394
50,325
77,719
2005
103,237
204,781
308,018  
71,157
148,673
219,830  
31,894
54,262
86,156
2006
108,230
220,597
328,827  
74,260
160,086
234,346  
33,699
58,861
92,560
2007
110,826
221,985
332,811  
75,196
160,072
235,268  
35,243
60,314
95,557
2008
88,939
212,698
301,637  
60,665
153,873
214,538  
27,930
57,171
85,101
2009
72,677
197,426
270,103  
48,442
141,888
190,330  
23,961
53,700
77,661
2010
52,194
185,882
238,076  
36,305
132,938
169,243  
15,608
50,765
66,373
2011
41,014
174,112
215,126  
30,010
124,341
154,351  
10,795
47,383
58,178
2012
31,597
156,095
187,692  
23,738
112,130
135,868  
7,626
42,103
49,729
(2) Includes offenders whose gender is not recorded on the Police National Computer.
(1) Offenders recorded on the Police National Computer by an English or Welsh police force as having received their first conviction, 
caution, reprimand or warning. Offences resulting in Penalty Notices for Disorder are not counted  as first offences.
Males and females(2)
Males
Females
12 month period to 
the end of 
September
 
 
 
 
Table Q7.3 First time entrants to the criminal justice system(1) as a rate per 
100,000 of the population(2), by gender and age group, 12 months ending 
September 2002 to 12 months ending September 2012, England and Wales 
 
Rates per 100,000 of the population
Juveniles
Adults
All ages
Juveniles
Adults
All ages
Juveniles
Adults
All ages
2002
1,566
451
582
2,204
695
883
890
219
293
2003
1,540
471
597
2,170
725
906
872
228
300
2004
1,683
473
616
2,302
718
915
1,025
237
325
2005
1,878
495
658
2,519
744
964
1,193
254
359
2006
1,977
529
696
2,639
792
1,018
1,266
273
383
2007
2,042
527
700
2,695
785
1,014
1,337
278
393
2008
1,650
501
630
2,190
747
918
1,065
262
348
2009
1,364
461
561
1,772
681
808
923
244
316
2010
994
431
492
1,349
632
714
610
229
269
2011
794
400
441
1,133
585
646
429
212
234
2012
595
353
379
872
521
561
295
186
197
(3) Includes offenders whose gender is not recorded on the Police National Computer.
(2) Population has been based on mid-year population estimates for each age group supplied by the Office for National Statistics. 
The previous year's estimate has been used for calculating the rate in the subsequent year. For example, the  2001 mid-year 
estimate has been used for calculating the rate for 2002 and so on.
Males and females(3)
Males
Females
(1) Offenders recorded on the Police National Computer by an English or Welsh police force as having received their first conviction, 
caution, reprimand or warning. Offences resulting in Penalty Notices for Disorder are not counted as first offences.
12 month period to 
the end of 
September
 
74

Table Q7.4: Proportion of offenders sentenced or cautioned for indictable 
offences by previous criminal history and sentence received, 12 months 
ending September 2012, England and Wales 
 
 
Number of 
previous 
convictions / 
cautions
Caution
Absolute 
discharge
Conditional 
discharge
Fine
Community 
sentence
Fully 
Suspended
Immediate 
custody
Other(1)
All 
Disposals(
100%)(2)
0
76.7
0.3
0.3
0.1
20.4
*
1.6
0.6
19,646
1-2
36.0
1.8
3.3
1.4
51.7
*
3.9
1.8
15,200
3-6
2.1
3.0
11.5
5.2
61.9
*
11.3
4.9
10,132
7-10
1.0
1.7
12.9
5.7
48.9
*
23.6
6.0
3,445
11-14
0.7
1.8
12.7
6.0
40.8
*
32.1
5.6
1,516
15+
1.0
2.8
9.7
4.9
34.4
*
39.8
7.2
1,337
All offenders
40.6
1.5
4.9
2.2
40.8
*
7.6
2.5
51,276
0
60.4
0.1
4.3
4.6
10.0
7.5
11.5
1.6
65,973
1-2
37.7
0.1
9.8
12.6
15.9
8.5
12.6
2.7
61,640
3-6
21.0
0.2
9.7
18.5
20.4
9.1
17.5
3.6
66,252
7-10
12.3
0.2
9.7
18.9
21.1
9.0
24.4
4.4
40,093
11-14
8.9
0.2
10.2
18.1
20.5
8.9
28.6
4.5
29,593
15+
4.2
0.4
10.6
14.9
18.9
7.7
37.5
5.9
106,241
All offenders
24.1
0.2
9.1
14.0
17.5
8.3
23.0
3.9
369,792
(2) For juveniles the All disposals figures include fully suspended sentences, therefore the percentages may not add up to 100
Number and percentage
(1) The 'Other' category includes some deferred sentences that the police will update on the Police 
Juveniles
Adults
 
75

Table Q7.5 Offenders sentenced for indictable offences by previous criminal 
history and sentence received, 12 month ending September 2002 to 12 months 
ending September 2012, England and Wales 
 
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Offenders of All ages
Absolute discharge
First time offenders
11.9
11.9
11.2
10.9
9.7
9.1
9.5
8.9
9.7
9.4
9.2
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
26.0
32.5
30.9
30.3
29.3
29.0
28.7
29.8
28.3
26.0
22.3
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
23.1
22.5
24.4
24.6
25.3
25.5
25.9
26.5
26.8
24.9
26.3
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
11.9
10.3
9.7
10.1
9.6
9.4
9.1
7.2
9.3
8.2
8.3
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
8.9
7.6
6.9
5.9
5.8
7.2
6.3
6.3
6.0
6.5
5.5
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
18.3
15.1
16.9
18.2
20.3
19.8
20.6
21.2
20.0
25.0
28.4
All offenders (100%)
2,334
2,972
2,599
2,169
2,150
2,126
1,986
1,654
1,718
1,729
1,629
Conditional discharge
First time offenders
13.2
11.8
11.8
12.1
11.5
10.9
9.6
9.1
9.6
9.2
8.0
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
24.3
21.6
21.2
20.4
20.4
19.7
19.6
19.5
20.1
19.2
18.2
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
24.2
24.2
23.7
22.8
23.1
23.7
23.0
22.6
22.7
22.0
21.1
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
13.4
13.7
13.3
13.3
12.8
12.6
12.7
12.7
12.2
12.3
12.1
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
8.6
9.2
9.3
9.0
9.1
8.9
9.1
9.1
8.8
8.6
8.9
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
16.3
19.4
20.7
22.4
23.1
24.2
26.0
27.1
26.7
28.7
31.6
All offenders (100%)
48,040
49,475
46,219
41,588
38,313
36,929
36,273
34,874
37,100
36,761
35,979
Fine
First time offenders
9.0
8.5
9.1
9.3
9.0
7.9
7.2
6.4
6.2
6.0
5.8
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
20.6
19.1
18.2
18.0
18.2
18.2
16.8
16.8
17.0
16.1
15.1
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
27.8
27.4
26.8
26.2
25.9
26.4
25.7
25.3
25.7
24.9
24.1
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
15.2
15.5
14.9
14.7
14.7
14.7
15.0
15.1
14.8
14.8
14.7
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
9.4
10.0
9.8
9.7
9.6
9.5
10.2
9.9
10.2
10.2
10.3
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
17.9
19.6
21.2
22.1
22.6
23.2
25.2
26.5
26.0
28.0
30.0
All offenders (100%)
75,895
78,046
69,398
58,434
52,210
49,043
51,914
56,420
57,373
58,443
52,947
Community sentence
First time offenders
13.9
13.9
14.1
14.2
13.5
12.2
11.4
11.4
12.4
12.6
12.4
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
24.9
25.2
25.1
25.9
27.0
27.3
25.7
24.4
23.6
22.3
20.7
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
27.7
26.2
25.5
25.4
26.6
27.1
26.4
25.4
25.1
24.4
23.2
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
13.5
13.1
12.5
11.9
11.7
11.8
12.0
11.7
11.6
11.8
11.9
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
7.8
7.9
7.8
7.4
6.9
6.7
7.2
7.6
7.2
7.6
7.8
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
12.3
13.8
15.0
15.1
14.4
14.9
17.2
19.5
20.1
21.3
24.0
All offenders (100%)
104,918
106,979
106,964
106,069
100,844
99,035
100,439
100,445
96,384
93,182
85,429
Fully suspended
First time offenders
31.5
29.2
27.1
18.7
14.1
14.2
14.8
15.0
16.1
16.4
16.2
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
17.5
16.5
15.9
13.7
14.8
16.1
16.7
17.5
18.0
17.7
17.1
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
18.4
18.4
19.7
18.7
20.6
21.6
20.7
20.1
21.0
20.5
19.7
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
10.9
11.3
11.4
13.2
13.8
13.6
13.2
12.7
12.0
12.1
11.8
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
7.7
7.9
8.0
9.8
10.3
9.5
9.0
9.0
8.6
8.2
8.6
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
14.0
16.5
17.8
25.9
26.4
25.1
25.5
25.7
24.3
25.1
26.6
All offenders (100%)
2,075
2,153
2,173
4,684
19,145
28,155
31,028
31,076
31,649
30,756
30,651
Immediate custody
First time offenders
9.2
9.0
9.4
9.8
10.1
10.4
10.7
10.0
10.1
9.1
8.8
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
9.3
8.4
8.7
9.0
9.2
9.2
9.1
9.8
10.1
9.5
9.4
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
18.3
16.8
16.3
16.0
16.1
16.1
15.3
15.4
15.4
14.9
14.4
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
17.8
17.0
15.7
15.1
14.3
14.2
13.7
13.2
12.9
12.3
11.9
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
14.5
14.8
13.9
13.2
12.6
12.1
11.9
11.5
11.0
10.6
10.1
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
31.0
34.1
36.0
37.0
37.7
38.0
39.3
40.2
40.6
43.7
45.4
All offenders (100%)
85,848
86,606
89,795
86,115
84,383
83,719
91,950
90,190
88,029
90,544
88,930
Other(1)
First time offenders
9.0
7.5
7.8
7.4
8.2
8.7
9.6
10.7
9.6
8.7
7.5
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
15.5
13.8
13.8
13.6
14.0
13.6
12.9
14.7
15.1
13.5
12.3
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
24.5
23.5
23.2
22.2
22.4
22.4
20.4
19.9
19.5
18.8
18.3
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
16.8
16.2
15.0
15.0
14.9
14.4
14.2
12.7
12.9
12.5
12.5
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
11.7
12.5
11.8
11.6
10.8
10.8
10.1
10.0
9.5
9.3
9.0
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
22.5
26.4
28.5
30.2
29.7
30.1
32.9
32.0
33.4
37.2
40.4
All offenders (100%)
14,254
13,882
13,200
12,389
11,959
12,400
12,917
13,972
18,124
17,315
15,721
All disposals
First time offenders
11.4
10.9
11.3
11.5
11.4
10.9
10.6
10.2
10.6
10.2
9.9
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
19.4
18.5
18.2
18.4
18.6
18.6
17.6
17.5
17.5
16.4
15.5
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
24.6
23.6
22.9
22.4
22.6
22.9
22.0
21.6
21.7
20.9
20.0
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
15.1
14.8
14.1
13.6
13.3
13.3
13.2
12.9
12.7
12.6
12.4
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
10.2
10.5
10.2
9.9
9.5
9.3
9.5
9.4
9.2
9.1
9.1
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
19.4
21.7
23.4
24.2
24.6
25.1
27.1
28.3
28.5
30.7
33.1
Total offenders of All ages (100%)
333,364
340,113
330,348
311,448
309,004
311,407
326,507
328,631
330,377
328,730
311,286
Number and percentage of offenders
Disposal and number of previous 
convictions or cautions(3)
12 month period to the end of September
 
 
76

 
 
 
Juvenile offenders
Absolute discharge
First time offenders
15.4
15.9
12.8
11.4
9.7
9.8
8.9
8.1
8.3
9.1
8.4
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
47.7
54.3
48.8
45.7
45.2
44.1
43.6
45.1
39.5
40.5
36.0
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
25.9
22.2
30.0
31.5
33.1
32.5
35.2
35.0
36.2
35.2
39.3
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
6.7
4.6
4.8
6.5
6.7
7.2
6.4
5.2
8.2
6.9
7.8
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
2.6
1.6
2.4
2.9
2.6
4.1
3.5
3.4
4.0
3.8
3.6
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
1.7
1.5
1.2
2.0
2.6
2.2
2.4
3.2
3.7
4.6
4.9
All juvenile offenders (100%)
831
1,413
1,358
1,161
1,114
1,168
1,055
916
966
879
773
Conditional discharge
First time offenders
13.5
5.5
5.3
5.4
5.2
4.5
3.5
2.9
3.2
2.6
2.3
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
37.7
26.4
26.5
23.9
25.0
22.9
22.4
19.8
20.5
18.2
20.1
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
33.4
44.9
45.6
47.0
45.8
48.1
47.2
48.0
47.9
47.7
46.8
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
10.0
14.3
14.3
15.4
15.4
15.0
16.4
17.1
15.6
17.7
17.8
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
3.6
5.9
5.4
5.4
5.7
6.6
6.8
7.4
7.3
7.3
7.7
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
1.8
3.0
3.0
2.8
2.9
2.8
3.7
4.7
5.5
6.6
5.2
All juvenile offenders (100%)
5,452
3,691
3,884
3,750
3,645
3,705
3,391
3,330
3,209
3,052
2,499
Fine
First time offenders
4.5
2.0
2.5
2.0
2.3
2.1
1.9
1.5
1.3
1.1
1.3
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
35.2
23.6
25.0
24.3
23.8
23.1
20.9
18.1
19.4
18.4
19.6
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
43.6
52.3
51.0
50.5
49.6
49.8
51.4
50.5
47.6
51.7
47.4
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
11.2
15.4
14.3
15.7
15.5
16.2
17.2
18.1
18.5
17.6
17.6
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
4.2
4.8
5.0
4.8
5.4
5.9
5.5
7.1
7.9
5.8
8.2
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
1.3
1.9
2.3
2.7
3.3
2.9
3.2
4.7
5.1
5.4
5.9
All juvenile offenders (100%)
4,793
3,567
3,350
3,088
2,579
2,508
2,497
2,105
1,868
1,500
1,110
Community sentence
First time offenders
14.2
14.7
15.1
14.6
13.6
12.4
12.5
12.8
14.5
17.3
19.2
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
40.6
42.7
43.2
43.3
42.7
41.8
40.5
40.7
39.1
37.9
37.6
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
33.0
31.2
30.6
31.3
32.0
33.2
33.3
32.8
32.4
31.8
30.0
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
8.7
7.8
7.8
7.3
8.0
8.7
8.9
8.5
8.5
7.9
8.1
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
2.6
2.5
2.3
2.4
2.4
2.7
3.3
3.2
3.1
2.9
3.0
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.1
1.3
1.2
1.5
2.1
2.3
2.2
2.2
All juvenile offenders (100%)
33,109
34,090
34,676
36,267
37,496
39,838
36,667
32,926
28,834
24,823
20,897
Immediate custody
First time offenders
7.1
5.8
6.1
5.8
5.5
5.5
6.1
6.4
7.2
6.9
8.1
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
16.2
14.5
15.9
14.8
14.7
14.2
14.4
15.7
14.0
14.2
15.3
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
35.3
35.1
34.2
33.7
32.5
32.9
32.1
30.2
31.4
30.0
29.5
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
24.5
25.6
23.8
24.3
25.4
24.9
23.7
21.7
21.6
21.3
20.9
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
11.3
12.2
12.3
12.9
12.6
13.7
13.8
13.5
12.3
13.5
12.5
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
5.6
6.9
7.6
8.5
9.3
8.7
9.9
12.4
13.5
14.2
13.7
All juvenile offenders (100%)
6,453
5,878
6,312
6,484
6,756
6,883
6,715
5,789
4,982
4,924
3,884
Other(1)
First time offenders
10.9
6.0
6.0
5.3
6.5
5.6
5.7
8.5
10.4
10.7
9.5
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
28.6
25.9
23.7
25.9
23.6
21.4
20.9
25.9
26.6
23.4
21.5
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
37.3
42.1
44.3
40.2
40.7
44.5
40.7
35.5
33.7
33.4
38.6
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
15.4
15.6
15.7
16.8
17.4
17.3
18.1
16.3
14.8
16.0
16.2
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
5.6
6.8
6.4
7.5
8.3
7.0
8.2
8.0
8.1
8.8
6.7
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
2.2
3.5
4.0
4.2
3.5
4.2
6.3
5.8
6.3
7.7
7.5
All juvenile offenders (100%)
2,232
1,869
1,789
1,747
1,821
1,866
1,735
1,982
2,482
2,044
1,278
All disposals(2)
First time offenders
12.3
11.8
12.0
11.7
11.1
10.3
10.2
10.5
11.8
13.5
15.0
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
36.4
36.6
36.8
36.8
36.4
35.7
34.4
34.6
33.2
31.6
31.9
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
34.3
34.3
34.0
34.1
34.2
35.2
35.2
34.5
34.3
33.8
32.6
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
11.3
11.1
10.9
10.8
11.4
11.7
12.0
11.4
11.4
11.3
11.2
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
4.0
4.2
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.6
5.1
5.2
5.1
5.2
4.9
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
1.7
2.0
2.2
2.4
2.6
2.5
3.0
3.8
4.3
4.6
4.3
Total All juvenile offenders (100%)
52,870
50,509
51,371
52,528
53,492
56,079
52,176
47,171
42,405
37,295
30,469 
 
 
77

Adult offenders
Absolute discharge
First time offenders
9.9
8.3
9.3
10.3
9.7
8.2
10.1
10.0
11.4
9.8
9.9
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
14.1
12.8
11.4
12.7
12.3
10.5
11.7
10.8
13.8
10.9
10.0
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
21.5
22.8
18.1
16.7
16.8
17.0
15.4
16.0
14.6
14.2
14.5
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
14.8
15.5
15.1
14.3
12.7
12.0
12.1
9.6
10.6
9.5
8.8
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
12.3
13.1
11.8
9.2
9.2
11.1
9.5
10.0
8.5
9.3
7.2
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
27.4
27.5
34.2
36.8
39.3
41.1
41.2
43.5
41.0
46.2
49.5
All adult offenders (100%)
1,503
1,559
1,241
1,008
1,036
958
931
738
752
850
856
Conditional discharge
First time offenders
13.2
12.3
12.4
12.7
12.2
11.6
10.2
9.8
10.2
9.8
8.4
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
22.6
21.2
20.7
20.1
19.9
19.3
19.4
19.4
20.0
19.3
18.1
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
23.0
22.5
21.7
20.4
20.7
20.9
20.4
19.9
20.3
19.7
19.2
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
13.8
13.7
13.2
13.1
12.5
12.3
12.3
12.2
11.8
11.8
11.7
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
9.2
9.5
9.6
9.4
9.5
9.2
9.3
9.3
8.9
8.8
9.0
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
18.2
20.7
22.3
24.4
25.3
26.6
28.3
29.4
28.7
30.7
33.6
All adult offenders (100%)
42,588
45,784
42,335
37,838
34,668
33,224
32,882
31,544
33,891
33,709
33,480
Fine
First time offenders
9.3
8.8
9.4
9.7
9.3
8.2
7.4
6.6
6.4
6.1
5.9
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
19.7
18.9
17.9
17.7
17.9
17.9
16.6
16.8
17.0
16.1
15.0
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
26.7
26.2
25.6
24.8
24.7
25.2
24.4
24.3
25.0
24.2
23.6
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
15.5
15.5
15.0
14.6
14.7
14.6
14.9
15.0
14.7
14.7
14.6
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
9.8
10.2
10.0
10.0
9.8
9.7
10.4
10.0
10.3
10.3
10.3
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
19.0
20.5
22.1
23.2
23.6
24.3
26.3
27.3
26.7
28.6
30.5
All adult offenders (100%)
71,102
74,479
66,048
55,346
49,631
46,535
49,417
54,315
55,505
56,943
51,837
Community sentence
First time offenders
13.7
13.5
13.7
14.0
13.4
12.0
10.8
10.8
11.5
11.0
10.2
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
17.6
17.0
16.5
16.9
17.8
17.6
17.2
16.4
16.9
16.6
15.2
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
25.3
23.8
23.1
22.4
23.3
23.1
22.4
21.9
22.0
21.8
20.9
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
15.7
15.6
14.7
14.3
13.9
13.9
13.7
13.3
12.9
13.2
13.1
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
10.2
10.4
10.4
10.0
9.5
9.5
9.5
9.7
8.9
9.2
9.4
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
17.6
19.8
21.6
22.4
22.2
24.0
26.2
28.0
27.7
28.2
31.1
All adult offenders (100%)
71,809
72,889
72,288
69,802
63,348
59,197
63,772
67,519
67,550
68,359
64,532
Fully suspended
First time offenders
31.5
29.2
27.1
18.8
14.2
14.2
14.8
15.0
16.1
16.4
16.2
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
17.5
16.5
15.9
13.7
14.8
16.1
16.6
17.4
18.0
17.7
17.1
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
18.4
18.4
19.7
18.5
20.5
21.5
20.6
20.0
20.9
20.4
19.7
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
10.9
11.3
11.4
13.0
13.8
13.5
13.2
12.7
12.0
12.1
11.8
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
7.7
7.9
8.0
9.8
10.3
9.5
9.1
9.0
8.6
8.2
8.6
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
14.0
16.5
17.8
26.1
26.5
25.2
25.6
25.8
24.3
25.2
26.6
All adult offenders (100%)
2,075
2,152
2,171
4,653
19,064
28,044
30,912
30,953
31,585
30,683
30,623
Immediate custody
First time offenders
9.4
9.2
9.6
10.1
10.5
10.9
11.0
10.2
10.2
9.2
8.9
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
8.7
8.0
8.2
8.5
8.7
8.8
8.7
9.3
9.8
9.2
9.1
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
16.9
15.5
14.9
14.6
14.7
14.6
14.0
14.3
14.5
14.0
13.7
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
17.2
16.3
15.1
14.3
13.3
13.3
12.9
12.7
12.4
11.8
11.5
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
14.8
14.9
14.0
13.2
12.6
11.9
11.8
11.3
10.9
10.4
10.0
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
33.0
36.0
38.2
39.3
40.2
40.6
41.6
42.1
42.2
45.4
46.9
All adult offenders (100%)
79,395
80,728
83,483
79,631
77,627
76,836
85,235
84,401
83,047
85,620
85,046
Other(1)
First time offenders
8.7
7.8
8.0
7.8
8.5
9.2
10.2
11.1
9.5
8.4
7.3
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
13.0
12.0
12.2
11.5
12.3
12.2
11.7
12.8
13.3
12.2
11.5
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
22.1
20.6
19.9
19.3
19.1
18.5
17.2
17.4
17.3
16.9
16.5
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
17.0
16.3
14.9
14.7
14.5
13.8
13.6
12.1
12.6
12.0
12.2
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
12.9
13.4
12.6
12.2
11.2
11.4
10.3
10.3
9.7
9.3
9.2
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
26.3
29.9
32.4
34.4
34.5
34.7
37.0
36.3
37.7
41.2
43.3
All adult offenders (100%)
12,022
12,013
11,411
10,642
10,138
10,534
11,182
11,990
15,642
15,271
14,443
All disposals
First time offenders
11.2
10.8
11.1
11.5
11.4
11.0
10.6
10.2
10.4
9.8
9.3
1-2 previous convictions/cautions
16.2
15.4
14.8
14.7
14.9
14.8
14.4
14.6
15.2
14.5
13.7
3-6 previous convictions/cautions
22.7
21.7
20.9
20.0
20.2
20.2
19.5
19.5
19.8
19.3
18.6
7-10 previous convictions/cautions
15.8
15.5
14.7
14.2
13.7
13.6
13.4
13.2
12.8
12.7
12.5
11-14 previous convictions/cautions
11.3
11.6
11.4
11.0
10.6
10.3
10.3
10.1
9.8
9.6
9.6
15 or more previous convictions/cautions
22.8
25.1
27.3
28.7
29.2
30.0
31.7
32.4
32.0
34.0
36.3
Total All adult offenders (100%)
280,494
289,604
278,977
258,920
255,512
255,328
274,331
281,460
287,972
291,435
280,817
(2) For juveniles the All disposals figures include fully suspended sentences.
(3) Figures are counts of sentence or caution occasions, where there are multiple offences on the same occasion only primary offence was counted.
(1)  For 12 months ending September 2012 the 'Other' category includes some deferred sentences that the police will update on the Police National Computer at a later 
date when the final decision is known.
 
 
 
 
78

Explanatory notes  
 
The statistics in this bulletin relate to cases in the Crown and magistrates’ courts in 
England and Wales during 12 months ending September 2012.  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  
  
 
79

 
80
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Mike Elkins 
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Email: xxx@xxx.xx 
 
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