Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly Update to March 2013
Source: data.gov.uk (2018-05-25)

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

/ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Criminal Justice Statistics  
Quarterly Update to March 2013 
 
England and Wales 
 
Ministry of Justice  
Statistics bulletin 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Published 22 August 2013  
 

Contents 
 
 
Contents...................................................................................................................... 1 
 
Introduction ................................................................................................................. 2 
 
Executive summary..................................................................................................... 4 
 
Out of court disposals .............................................................................................. 5 
Court proceedings and remand................................................................................ 6 
Offenders found guilty.............................................................................................. 7 
Sentencing ............................................................................................................... 8 
Gender comparisons.............................................................................................. 10 
Offending histories ................................................................................................. 10 
 
Explanatory notes ..................................................................................................... 17 
 
Symbols and conventions ...................................................................................... 17 
Guidance on tables and supplementary volumes .................................................. 17 
 
Contacts.................................................................................................................... 17 
 

Introduction 
 
This report presents the key statistics on activity in the Criminal Justice System (CJS) 
for England and Wales. It provides information for the latest twelve months (April 
2012 to March 2013) with accompanying commentary, analysis and presentation of 
longer term trends. 
 
The data provides users with information about proven offending and its outcomes in 
England and Wales. The contents of this bulletin will be of interest to government 
policy makers in the development of policy and their subsequent monitoring and 
evaluation. Others will be interested in the way different crimes are dealt with in the 
CJS. Where appropriate, comparisons are made with different sources covering 
activity in the CJS – in particular, numbers of crimes recorded by the police, often the 
starting point for crimes dealt with by other CJS agencies1. 
 
The information in this publication for the first quarter of 2013 in relation to court 
proceedings and outcomes is provisional. 
 
A technical document titled “A Guide to Criminal Justice Statistics” is available 
alongside this bulletin, which provides users with detailed information on the 
concepts and methods used in compiling this bulletin, including the quality of the 
data, along with guidance on statistical revisions and forthcoming changes. A copy of 
the technical document can be found at: 
 
www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly-march-2013 
 
Remands 
 
The remand status at magistrates’ courts in previous editions of this publication have 
been estimated, because they were either based on incomplete returns, or because 
of problems in the way central systems interfaced with the Libra case management 
system to identify the remand status.  
 
MoJ statisticians have resolved as far as is possible the data problems with the 
remand status at magistrates’ courts, and have published revised estimates for the 
12 months ending March 2011 up to the 12 months ending March 2013 within the 
Chapter 3 tables. Revised remands tables for calendar years 2011 and 2012 have 
also been published alongside this bulletin, specifically updating the information on 
remand status at magistrates’ courts. 
 
A description of the methodology of the fix which has been applied to estimate 
remand status at magistrates’ courts is providing in the technical document. 
 
Implementation of changes to offence classifications 
 
In July 2013, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) re-designed the classifications 
used to present police recorded crime statistics, following recommendations from the 
National Statistician’s review of Crime Statistics in England and Wales in June 2011. 
The changes to classifications were implemented in the ONS statistical bulletin 
‘Crime in England and Wales, year ending March 2013’, published in July 2013, 
                                                
1 Findings from the Crime Survey for England and Wales and recorded crime data are published 
together in statistical bulletins by the Office for National Statistics. 
2 

alongside a methodological note2 providing more detail on the changes and their 
impact on time-series for key measures. No change has been made to the coverage 
of offences in the police recorded crime series, and most changes are presentational, 
with some offences moving between classifications or being separated out of existing 
groupings. 
 
In this publication, the Executive Summary statistical tables which providing offence 
group breakdowns have been presented on both the old and new classification 
bases, and Chapter 6 (offences) has been adapted to match the new classification. 
 
Interpretation 
 
 
 
This publication presents information for the latest 12 month period (the twelve 
months ending March 2013) alongside the same rolling 12 month periods 
ending March for the previous ten years. The comparison of 12 rolling month 
periods has the advantage over reporting on shorter timeframes – for example, 
covering only the latest quarter – of avoiding misinterpretation of short-term 
fluctuations caused by seasonality (for example, reduced court volumes every 
December when many of the courts are closed over the Christmas period), and 
enables the presentation of longer-term trends across comparable reporting 
periods. 
 
In this publication: 
 
the “latest year” refers to the 12 months ending March 2013; 
 
the “previous year” refers to the 12 months ending March 2012; and 
 
any other reference period will be referred to explicitly.
Further guidance on the symbols and conventions used in the bulletin is provided in 
the ‘Explanatory notes’ section. 
 
If you have any feedback, questions or requests for further information about 
this statistical bulletin, please direct them to the appropriate contact given at 
the end of this report. 
 
                                                
2 ‘Presentational changes to National Statistics on police recorded crime in England and Wales’, Office 
for National Statistics Methodology Note, 18 July 2013 
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/crime-statistics-methodology/presentational-
changes-on-police-recorded-crime-in-england-and-wales.pdf 
3 

Executive summary 
 
This summary explains how the various criminal justice agencies deal with an 
defendant once identified, presents the recent trends on how the Criminal Justice 
System (CJS) response to offending is changing, and identifies factors that may be 
causing the changes, where identifiable. 
 
Once a suspect has been identified by the police, charged and arrested, the police 
work with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in deciding the most appropriate 
course of action in each case. The decision can be made to not take the offender to 
court, through a number of available “out-of-court disposals”, or to proceed against 
the defendant at a magistrates’ court. 
 
The total number of individuals, which includes people and companies, who have 
been dealt with formally by the CJS in England and Wales, in either of these ways, 
has been declining since the 12 months ending March 2006, with 1.82 million 
individuals dealt with in the latest year. Police recorded crime peaked in 2003/04, and 
recorded offences are now lower than at any time over the past decade. 
 
Figure 1: Individuals3 dealt with formally by the CJS, March 2003 to March 2013 
0
250
500
750
1,000
1,250
1,500
1,750
2,000
2,250
2,500
2,750
3,000
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
12 months ending March
Total individuals dealt with (thousands)
Issued out of court disposal
Proceeded against at magistrates' courts
 
 
The number of individuals dealt with formally by the CJS for the first time has also 
fallen since the 12 months ending March 2007 – with 171,100 ‘first time entrants’ to 
the CJS in the latest year, a decline of 46% since 2007. The reduction has been 
much sharper for juveniles (74% over the same period), reflecting both a decreasing 
number of juvenile offenders reprimanded or issued with a warning and the 
decreasing numbers of juveniles found guilty in all courts. However, per head of 
population, the rate of juvenile first time entrants remains higher than for adults. 
 
 
 
                                                
3 Includes people and companies. Note also that a single individual can be counted more than once in a 
given year if they are dealt with by the Criminal Justice System on more than one separate occasion. 
4 

Criminal offences can be divided into three main offence groups: 
 
 
Indictable proceedings, which cover the more serious offences such as violent 
and sexual offences and robbery, and when heard in court tend to be passed on 
to the Crown Court, either for sentencing or for a full trial with a judge and jury. 
This group includes both ‘indictable only’ offences, which can only be tried on 
indictment in the Crown Court by a judge and jury, and ‘triable-either-way’ 
offences which are triable either summarily in a magistrate’s court or on 
indictment in the Crown Court; 
 
 
Summary proceedings, which cover less serious offences, are almost always 
handled entirely in the magistrates’ courts when dealt with in court, with the 
majority completed at the first hearing. They are split into two categories: 
 
 
Summary non-motoring proceedings, such as TV license evasion and less 
serious criminal damage; and 
 
 
Summary motoring proceedings, such as speeding and driving whilst 
disqualified. 
 
Out of court disposals 
 
Until the introduction of Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) in 2004 and formal 
warnings for possession of cannabis in 2005, the only out of court disposal available 
to police was a caution. Since the 12 months ending March 2003, the use of out of 
court disposals increased rapidly and peaked in the 12 months ending March 2008, 
before decreasing year on year – with 363,800 individuals issued an out of court 
disposal in the latest year. The increase to the 12 months ending March 2008 
coincided with the introduction in 2001 of a target to increase offences brought to 
justice, and the decrease coincided with the replacement in April 2008 of the target 
with one placing more emphasis on bringing serious crimes to justice. The latter 
target was subsequently removed in May 2010. 
 
Figure 2: Out of court disposals issued, by disposal, March 2003 to March 2013 
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
12 months ending March
Persons issued an out of court disposal (thousands)
Cannabis warnings
Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs)
Cautions for summary non-motoring offences
Cautions for indictable offences
 
5 

The use of out of court disposals decreased by 14% in the latest year, with each type 
of disposal used less than in the previous year. The biggest decreases were in the 
use of PNDs (101,100 issued compared with 122,800 in the previous year) and 
cautions for indictable offences (101,300 issued compared with 119,600 in the 
previous year).  
 
Court proceedings and remand 
 
All criminal cases proceeding to court in England and Wales start in a magistrates’ 
court. Since the 12 months ending March 2004, the number of defendants proceeded 
against at magistrates’ court has declined almost year on year – down to 1.46 million 
defendants in the latest period – driven chiefly by decreases in summary motoring 
offences brought before magistrates. The biggest decreases were for vehicle 
insurance offences, with large decreases also for driving licence related offences, 
speed limit offences, and driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs. 
 
Proceedings decreased by 7% in the latest year, with decreases seen in every 
indictable and summary offence group. Over half the decrease occurred in the 
indictable offence category – predominantly for violence against the person, theft and 
handling stolen goods, and ‘other indictable’ offences. 
 
Figure 3:  Defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts, by offence 
group, March 2003 to March 2013 
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1,000
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
12 months ending March
Defendants proceeded against (thousands)
Summary motoring
Summary non-motoring
Indictable
 
 
Around 6% of all defendants proceeded against are passed on to the Crown Court 
for trial, 96% of which are accused of indictable offences. The number of defendants 
appearing in the Crown Court for trial increased during the late ‘00s as a result of a 
greater proportion of cases being committed and sent for trial. However, since the 12 
months ending March 2011, this trend has reversed, with the volume of defendants 
tried at the Crown Court on the decline – with 83,500 defendants tried at the Crown 
Court in the latest year, compared with 106,300 in the 12 months ending March 
2011. 
 
6 

Police remands are the decisions made by a police officer on whether to detain or 
bail a defendant pending their first appearance in court or send a notice summoning 
them to appear in court. In the latest year, there were 1.56 million defendants 
directed by the police to appear at magistrates’ courts (including here those who 
failed to appear). The proportion of defendants remanded in custody by the police 
increased between the 12 months ending March 2008 and the 12 months ending 
March 2012, from 6% to 12% – driven mainly by the rise in defendants remanded in 
custody for indictable offences – but has decreased back to 11% in the latest year. In 
addition, in the latest year, 30% were granted bail by the police the remaining 59% 
directed to appear via summonses 
 
Court remands are the court’s decision on whether a defendant charged with a 
criminal offence should be held in custody or released on bail during the period up to 
and including the trial, or while awaiting sentence. In the latest year, it was estimated 
that bail was granted to 22% of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts, 
just over 3% were remanded in custody, just under 2% had an unknown remand 
status, and the remaining 73% had their case concluded at the magistrates’ courts 
without being remanded. 
 
Defendants are more likely to be remanded in custody for indictable offences than 
summary offences – as a result, the proportion of defendants remanded in custody at 
the Crown Court is higher than at magistrates’ courts. In the latest year, the 
proportion of defendants tried at the Crown Court who were remanded in custody 
was 34%, with a further 48% remanded on bail. Of those remanded in custody at the 
Crown Court, 74% were convicted and sentenced to immediate custody.  
 
Failure to appear (FTA) warrants are issued by courts when defendants do not attend 
court on a specified date, having either been summonsed or granted bail at an earlier 
stage. In the latest year, police forces in England and Wales received a total of 
70,400 FTA warrants from the courts, of which 88% were executed. The overall 
number of FTA warrants outstanding – those that have been issued to a police force 
but have not been executed or withdrawn – has been steadily decreasing over recent 
years, from 23,000 at the end of March 2009 to 16,200 at the end of March 2013. 
This decrease coincides with declining numbers of defendants who failed to appear 
to bail or summons at magistrates’ courts over recent years. 
 
Offenders found guilty 
 
Trends in the number of offenders convicted – that is, defendants who plead or are 
found guilty – and sentenced at all courts are driven by two factors, namely the 
number of individuals dealt with through the courts (the trend in prosecutions) and 
the proportion of those individuals who are found guilty. Conviction ratios are 
calculated as the number of convictions as a proportion of the number of 
proceedings, and give a measure of the relative number of defendants who are found 
guilty within a given year when compared with the number who are prosecuted that 
year. 
 
Since the 12 months ending March 2004, convictions have declined almost year on 
year, in line with declining numbers of individuals proceeded against. However, the 
decline in convictions has not been as steep as for proceedings, as a greater 
proportion of proceedings have resulted in convictions (reflected in the increasing 
conviction ratio over the period – from 74% in the 12 months ending March 2003 to 
83% in the latest year). The complex nature of the CJS means there are a number of 
possible factors contributing to this change – for example, changes in guilty plea 
7 

rates, the mix of cases handled in and out of court, impacts of operational changes, 
and so on – and it is difficult to separately identify the impacts of different factors. 
 
Figure 4:  Prosecutions at magistrates’ courts and convictions at all courts, 
with conviction ratio, March 2003 to March 2013 
0
400
800
1,200
1,600
2,000
2,400
2,800
3,200
3,600
4,000
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
12 months ending March
Number of defendants
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Conviction ratio (%)
Conviction ratio (%)
Proceeded against
Found guilty
 
 
Sentencing 
 
Fines are the most common sentence given to offenders at all courts, accounting for 
68% of offenders sentenced in the latest year, due in the main to the large volumes 
of fines issued for summary offences at the magistrates’ court. Offenders sentenced 
for summary offences accounted for 76% of all sentences issued in the latest year, of 
which 99% were dealt with entirely in the magistrates’ courts, and 84% issued fines. 
 
A different distribution of sentences is observed for indictable offences. In the latest 
year, 27% of offenders sentenced for indictable offences were sentenced to 
immediate custody (that is, to prison or other form of secure detention), 26% to 
community sentences, 18% to a fine, and 10% to a Suspended Sentence Order 
(SSO). Around a quarter of offenders sentenced for indictable offences were 
sentenced at the Crown Court – of these, 58% received an immediate custodial 
sentence, reflecting the fact that the most serious offences are likely to be tried on 
indictment in the Crown Court by a judge and jury. 
 
Overall, the way in which offenders found guilty have been sentenced has changed 
over the last decade. The use of SSOs rose steadily between the 12 months ending 
March 2005 and March 2011 – as a result of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which 
made SSOs more readily available – but has decreased since, in line with the 
decreasing volume of offenders being sentenced in court. The number of offenders 
given community sentences remained stable until the 12 months ending March 2011, 
after which large decrease in volumes have been observed – a decrease of 26% 
over the last two years. 
 
 
8 

Figure 5: Sentencing outcomes (percentages of all offenders sentenced) at all 
courts, March 2003 to March 2013 
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
12 months ending March
Percentage of offenders sentenced
Fine 
Otherwise dealt with
Discharge (absolute or conditional)
Suspended sentence
Community sentence
Immediate custody 
 
 
Between the 12 months ending March 2007 and March 2012, the immediate custody 
rate (the proportion of all persons sentenced receiving immediate custody) increased 
–  up from 6.7% to 8.1% – resulting in numbers sent to prison or other forms of 
secure detention increasing despite the overall fall in offenders sentenced. In the 
latest year however, the immediate custody rate dropped back down to 7.9%. 
 
The average length of custodial sentences has increased over the last decade – up 
to 14.7 months in the latest year, compared with 12.7 months in the 12 months 
ending March 2003. The increase has been driven mainly by changes in the case 
mix of people getting custodial sentences, with summary offences increasingly dealt 
with through other sentence types, and longer sentences being given for indictable 
offences. Further, legislative changes have made sentence lengths longer for certain 
offences – for example, a third domestic burglary. 
 
The introduction of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act (CJIA) in 2008 restricted 
the use of Indeterminate sentences for Public Protection (IPPs). This has coincided 
with an increase in long determinate sentences (defined as for 10 years or more), 
which may also have contributed to the increase in the average length of custodial 
sentences since 2008. 
 
Further, legislative changes have made sentence lengths longer for certain offences 
– for example, the powers to sentence offenders convicted of a third domestic 
burglary offence to a mandatory minimum sentence of three years custody, as 
introduced by the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 for offences committed after 30th 
November 1999, have been used increasingly in the last decade. 
 
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act, which was 
passed on 3rd December 2012, abolished IPPs and replaced them with new 
Extended Determinate Sentences (EDS). Further, it legislated that adult offenders 
will receive mandatory life sentences for a second serious sexual or violent offence. 
However, both of these measures could potentially impact upon ACSL in future.  
9 

Gender comparisons 
 
Males account for seven out of every ten individuals proceeded against in court, but 
nine out of every ten offenders sentenced to immediate custody.  
 
Figure 6: Persons proceeded against at magistrates’ courts, by age and 
gender, 12 months ending March 2013 
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
65+
40-64
22-39
18-21
10-17
Age group
Percentage of defendants proceeded against
Males
Females
Not stated
 
 
The difference in sentence outcomes reflects the different types of offences being 
committed by males and females, with males more frequently proceeded against for 
the more serious indictable offences. 
 
The gender split for defendant dealt with at court has been changing over the last 
decade, with the number of prosecutions of males decreasing while prosecutions of 
females have remained broadly stable. In the latest year, the number of prosecutions 
of males decreased by 9%, compared to a 3% decrease for females.  
 
The differences in the trends by gender relate to summary non-motoring offences, 
and in particular large increases in prosecutions for TV licence evasion offences for 
females. The change in the gender profile of defendants has influenced the trends in 
sentencing, where the number of male offenders sentenced is falling at a faster rate 
than the number of female offenders sentenced. 
 
Offending histories 
 
While the number of new entrants to the criminal justice system has fallen recently, 
the number and proportion of convicted offenders who have long criminal records 
has been increasing over the last 10 years.  
 
During the latest year, just over 100 thousand offenders convicted of an indictable 
offence had 15 or more previous convictions or cautions at the time. This equates to 
over a third of all convicted offenders in the year and is up from a fifth in the 12 
months ending March 2003 (70 thousand offenders).  
 
10 

Analysis has also shown that the majority of these prolific offenders already have in 
excess of 15 previous offences on their record while the numbers progressing from 
their 15th to their 16th offence is relatively unchanged each year. In addition, around 
half of those with 15 or more previous sanctions were convicted of offences related to 
theft and handling stolen goods – by comparison, only 22% of those with no previous 
convictions or cautions were convicted for the same offence types. In contrast, 
sexual offences and offences relating to fraud and forgery accounted for 8% and 
12% of convictions for those offenders with no previous history respectively, but only 
1% and 2% of convictions for those offenders with 15 or more previous.  
 
As might be expected, given that sentencing decisions will typically take into account 
previous offending history, the proportion of offenders receiving immediate custody 
for an indictable offence is higher for those groups of offenders with longer criminal 
histories. In the latest year, 38% of adults with 15 or more previous received a 
custodial sentence compared to 12% for adults with no previous history of offending. 
The equivalent figures for juveniles were 40% and 2% respectively.  
 
The most common disposal given in the latest year for offenders committing an 
indictable offence with no previous criminal history was a caution, with this 
accounting for 78% of juveniles in this group and 60% of adults. 
 
 
 
11 

Figure 7:  Flows through the Criminal Justice System, 12 months ending 
 
March 2013 
 
Notifiable and non-notifiable principal offences ( * all offences)
Cautions
193,522
101,104
    
2,189,885
1,542,739 (*)
(*)
Guilty Plea
76,868
Not Guilty Plea
9,585
Fined
Custody
Other
Fined
Custody
Suspended
Other
disposal
sentence
disposal
1,443
41,964
3,039
172
6,775
1,479
269
Fined
Custody
Other 
810,900
45,611
107,929
14.7 months
(2) Defendants tried at the Crown Court in a given year may have been committed for trial by a magistrate in a previous year.
(3) Includes community sentences and suspended sentence orders.
(4) Receptions for offenders given a custodial sentence (figures include fine defaulters).
(5) Offenders starting Community Order or Suspended Sentence Order supervision by the Probation Service.
*    Total number of all offences in comparison with the total number of defendants on a principal offence basis.
86,453
Number tried at the Crown Court
(2)
84,334
Number committed for sentence at Crown Court
67,493
1,134,260
1,113,388
CPS discontinue the case
or case unable to proceed
Penalty Notices for Disorder
(*)
153,322
Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts
Number found guilty by magistrates
69,213
1,455,786
Probation starts
(5)
144,424
(1) Covers all indictable offences, including triable either way, plus a few closely associated summary offences. 
Prison receptions
(4)
84,898
890
Community 
sentence
12,363
Suspended
18,059
Community
sentence
O ffe n c e s
D e fe n d a n ts  (o ffe n c e s )
Number sentenced by the Crown Court
Number sentenced by magistrates
18,960
Cannabis warnings
Number found guilty at Crown Court
sentence
Total sentences to be served in the community
(3)
Community
Total sentenced to custody
125,617
94,350
Suspended 
Average custodial sentence length
sentence
23,331
181,739
3,502,320
Offences detected
CPS proceed with charge
Notifiable
Recorded Crime 
(1)
Crown Prosecution Service receive papers
from the police for prosecution
 
 
 
 
 
 
12 

England and Wales
March
2009
March
2010
March
2011
March
2012
March
2013
Out of court disposals
601,128
519,330
459,037
424,620
363,839
-14.3%
Cannabis warnings
104,027
84,529
79,417
77,933
69,213
-11.2%
Penalty Notices for Disorder (1)
174,959
161,575
138,266
122,805
101,104
-17.7%
Cautions 
322,142
273,226
241,354
223,882
193,522
-13.6%
Defendants proceeded against
1,639,639
1,690,980
1,644,191
1,557,046
1,455,786
-6.5%
Indictable offences (2)
402,146
418,910
438,540
416,911
360,843
-13.4%
Summary offences
1,237,493
1,272,070
1,205,651
1,140,135
1,094,943
-4.0%
Offenders convicted
1,366,088
1,400,296
1,362,308
1,296,150
1,201,753
-7.3%
Indictable offences
320,990
331,170
353,317
339,795
295,814
-12.9%
Summary offences
1,045,098
1,069,126
1,008,991
956,355
905,939
-5.3%
Prison receptions(3)
100,100
93,273
90,783
89,834
84,898
-5.5%
Probation starts(4)
168,451
167,797
166,219
158,901
144,424
-9.1%
(1) Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to offenders aged 16 and over.
(2) Indictable offences include those triable-either-way.
(3) Receptions for offenders given a custodial sentence (includes fine defaulters).
(4) Offenders starting Community Order or Suspended Sentence Order supervision by the Probation Service.
Table Q1.1 - Individuals entering the Criminal Justice System, 12 months ending March 2009 to 12 months ending March 2013
12 months ending
Percentage 
change 12 
months ending 
March 2012 to 
March 2013
 
 
 
 
 
England and Wales
March
2009
March
2010
March
2011
March
2012
March
2013
Total offenders sentenced(1)
1,365,078
1,398,217
1,360,683
1,294,816
1,199,841
-7.3%
Total persons sentenced(2)
1,356,831
1,389,694
1,352,847
1,288,088
1,193,459
-7.3%
Immediate custody (persons)
100,174
99,745
102,837
105,452
94,350
-10.5%
Suspended sentence (persons)
41,472
45,913
48,818
47,643
42,869
-10.0%
Community sentence (persons)
193,566
190,817
188,235
172,145
138,870
-19.3%
Fines (all offenders)
897,656
938,500
888,596
845,789
812,515
-3.9%
Other disposals (all offenders)
132,210
123,242
132,197
123,787
111,237
-10.1%
Average custodial sentence length (months)(3)
13.5
13.7
13.9
14.3
14.7
2.8%
change
Immediate custody (persons)
7.4
7.2
7.6
8.2
7.9
-0.3
Suspended sentence (persons)
3.1
3.3
3.6
3.7
3.6
-0.1
Community sentence (persons)
14.3
13.7
13.9
13.4
11.6
-1.7
Fines (all offenders)
65.8
67.1
65.3
65.3
67.7
2.4
Other disposals (all offenders)
9.7
8.8
9.7
9.6
9.3
-0.3
(3) Average custodial sentence length excludes life and indeterminate sentences.
(4) May not sum to 100 per cent as all rates are not calculated on the same basis.
Table Q1.2 - Offenders sentenced by principal sentence, 12 months ending March 2009 to 12 months ending March 2013
Percentage point
Percentage of those sentenced(4)
(2) For sentences of immediate custody, suspended sentence and community sentence, 'persons' is the same as 'offenders', as 'others' (such as companies 
or public bodies) cannot receive these sentences.
(1) The time lag between conviction and sentencing for cases committed for sentence at Crown Court can result in small differences between total offenders 
convicted and sentenced within reporting years.
12 months ending
Percentage 
change 12 months 
ending March 
2012 to March 
2013
 
 
13 

England and Wales
March
2009
March
2010
March
2011
March
2012
March
2013
Recorded crime(1)
4,550,335
4,194,639
4,011,970
3,842,230
3,502,320
-8.8%
Out of court disposals
557,581
476,794
419,702
391,171
334,847
-14.4%
Cannabis warnings
104,027
84,529
79,417
77,933
69,213
-11.2%
Penalty Notices for Disorder (2)
115,625
107,467
90,199
77,915
61,703
-20.8%
Cautions 
337,929
284,798
250,086
235,323
203,931
-13.3%
Proceedings
960,685
1,001,162
1,016,626
956,684
874,490
-8.6%
Convictions
754,516
750,449
764,889
733,420
672,730
-8.3%
Offences taken into consideration
101,647
79,120
74,234
65,960
56,529
-14.3%
Proven offences(3)
1,413,744
1,306,363
1,258,825
1,190,551
1,064,106
-10.6%
(2) Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to offenders aged 16 and over.
(3) Includes out of court disposals, convictions and offences taken into consideration.
Table Q1.3 - Recorded crime and notifiable offence outcomes, 12 months ending March 2009 to 12 months ending March 2013
12 months ending
Percentage 
change 12 
months ending 
March 2012 to 
March 2013
(1) Excluding fraud offences. For the year ending March 2013 figures, the Office for National Statistics published headline national crime figures that 
include centralised (Action Fraud) recording of fraud and a separate series which excludes fraud.  Due to the staggered move of recording fraud offences 
by forces to Action Fraud, crime figures are shown excluding fraud offences to allow for consistent comparisons.  
  
 
 
 
 
 
Offence Group
12 months 
ending
Recorded 
crime(1)
Cannabis 
warnings
Penalty Notices 
for Disorder(2)
Cautions
Proceedings
Convictions
Violence against the person
March 2012
626,720
23,405
94,054
303,320
207,758
March 2013
601,134
16,085
83,928
272,136
184,492
Sexual offences
March 2012
52,760
-
1,727
32,314
19,778
March 2013
53,540
-
1,745
28,666
19,161
Burglary
March 2012
501,048
-
3,693
46,200
32,601
March 2013
459,796
-
2,629
39,589
28,532
Robbery
March 2012
74,688
-
248
19,768
12,850
March 2013
65,156
-
176
16,043
10,989
Theft and handling stolen goods
March 2012
1,522,149
33,622
50,109
221,242
188,543
March 2013
1,398,492
26,819
39,700
209,090
179,317
Fraud and forgery(1)
March 2012
-
-
6,235
60,520
45,687
March 2013
-
-
5,342
56,074
40,385
Criminal damage
March 2012
626,008
4,616
27,218
73,504
58,445
March 2013
529,719
3,313
23,287
67,820
53,228
Drug offences
March 2012
229,099
77,933
16,272
45,667
107,844
94,889
March 2013
208,017
69,213
15,486
41,542
99,227
87,461
Other notifiable offences
March 2012
209,758
-
6,372
91,972
72,869
March 2013
186,466
-
5,582
85,845
69,165
All Notifiable Offences
March 2012
3,842,230
77,933
77,915
235,323
956,684
733,420
March 2013
3,502,320
69,213
61,703
203,931
874,490
672,730
(2) Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to offenders aged 16 and over.
Table Q1.4(i) - Recorded crime and notifiable offence outcomes by offence group, 12 months ending March 2012 and 12 months ending March 2013
(1) Excluding fraud offences. For the year ending March 2013 figures, the Office for National Statistics published headline national crime figures that include centralised 
(Action Fraud) recording of fraud and a separate series which excludes fraud.  Due to the staggered move of recording fraud offences by forces to Action Fraud, crime 
figures are shown excluding fraud offences to allow for consistent comparisons.  
14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
20
Mar 2003 Mar 2004 Mar 2005 Mar 2006 Mar 2007 Mar 2008 Mar 2009 Mar 2010 Mar 2011 Ma
England and Wales
Mar-03
Mar-04
Mar-05
Mar-06
Mar-07
Mar-08
Mar-09
Mar-10
Mar-11
Crime measured by Crime Survey for England and Wales(1)
12,260
11,642
10,679
10,715
11,060
10,002
10,446
9,503
9,623
Notifiable offences
-   offences recorded by the police(3)(4)
5,662
5,711
5,374
5,338
5,240
4,807
4,550
4,195
4,012
Number of offenders cautioned(5)
228
         
250
         
258
         
314
         
359
         
356
         
322
         
273
         
241
         
   
of which for indictable offences (6)
145
        
154
        
158
        
191
        
206
        
200
        
178
        
150
        
132
        
   
Number of offenders issued Penalty Notices for Disorder
..
..
91
           
158
         
209
         
201
         
175
         
162
         
138
         
   
of which for indictable offences (6)
..
..
6
            
26
          
42
          
44
          
49
          
59
          
53
          
   
Number of offences detected by means of cannabis warnings (all indictable)(3)
..
..
0
             
63
           
80
           
102
         
104
         
85
           
79
           
   
Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts
1,925
      
2,057
      
1,955
      
1,899
      
1,746
      
1,714
      
1,640
      
1,691
      
1,644
      
   
of which for indictable offences (6)
517
        
502
        
433
        
427
        
401
        
401
        
402
        
419
        
439
        
   
Defendants found guilty at magistrates' courts
1,364
      
1,481
      
1,451
      
1,433
      
1,344
      
1,344
      
1,294
      
1,321
      
1,277
      
   
of which for indictable offences (6)
281
        
276
        
252
        
256
        
246
        
251
        
252
        
256
        
273
        
   
Defendants sentenced at the Crown Court after summary conviction
17
           
16
           
15
           
19
           
17
           
17
           
18
           
17
           
19
           
   
Defendants tried at the Crown Court
79
           
80
           
77
           
78
           
78
           
84
           
91
           
99
           
108
         
   
Defendants found guilty at the Crown Court
60
           
60
           
59
           
59
           
59
           
66
           
72
           
79
           
85
           
   
of which for indictable offences (6)
58
          
57
          
56
          
57
          
56
          
62
          
69
          
75
          
80
          
   
Total offenders found guilty at both courts
1,425
     
1,541
     
1,510
     
1,493
     
1,404
      
1,410
     
1,366
     
1,400
      
1,362
    
    
of which for indictable offences (6)
339
        
334
        
308
        
313
        
302
        
314
        
321
        
331
        
353
        
   
Total offenders found guilty or cautioned(5)
1,652
      
1,791
      
1,768
      
1,807
      
1,763
      
1,766
      
1,688
      
1,674
      
1,604
      
   
of which for indictable offences (6)
484
        
487
        
466
        
504
        
508
        
513
        
499
        
481
        
485
        
   
Total sentenced (offenders)
1,423
     
1,539
      
1,509
     
1,491
     
1,403
     
1,408
     
1,365
      
1,398
      
1,361
      
   
Magistrates' court
1,346
     
1,463
     
1,434
     
1,413
     
1,326
     
1,326
     
1,274
     
1,302
     
1,257
     
   
Crown Court
77
          
76
          
74
          
78
          
77
          
83
          
91
          
96
          
104
        
   
Sentence
 Custody 
110
        
109
        
103
        
102
        
94
          
97
          
100
        
100
        
103
        
   
 Suspended Sentence
3
            
3
            
3
            
16
          
37
          
41
          
41
          
46
          
49
          
   
 Community Sentence
192
        
194
        
201
        
204
        
190
        
195
        
194
        
191
        
188
        
   
 Fine
971
        
1,078
     
1,054
     
1,026
     
943
        
933
        
898
        
939
        
889
        
   
 Other Sentences
148
        
156
        
148
        
144
        
138
        
143
        
132
        
123
        
132
        
   
12
2013
r 2012 Mar 2013
Thousands
Mar-12
Mar-13
9,500
8,643
-9.0%
3,842
3,502
-8.8%
224
      
194
         
-13.6%
120
     
101
        
-15.3%
123
      
101
         
-17.7%
50
       
42
          
-15.2%
78
        
69
           
-11.2%
1,557
   
1,456
      
-6.5%
417
     
361
        
-13.4%
1,217
   
1,134
      
-6.8%
264
     
231
        
-12.5%
21
        
19
           
-10.2%
99
        
84
           
-14.8%
79
        
67
           
-14.9%
76
       
65
          
-14.7%
1,296
  
1,202
      
-7.3%
340
     
296
        
-12.9%
1,520
   
1,395
      
-8.2%
459
     
397
        
-13.6%
1,295
   
1,200
    
-7.3%
1,194
  
1,113
     
-6.8%
100
     
86
          
-13.9%
105
     
94
          
-10.5%
48
       
43
          
-10.0%
172
     
139
        
-19.3%
846
     
813
        
-3.9%
124
     
111
        
-10.1%
(2) Not statistically significant, see Section 8 of the User Guide to Crime Statistics for England and Wales:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Crime+in+England+and+Wales
(3) Includes British Transport Police.
(6) Indictable offences include those triable-either-way.
(5) Cautions, written warnings and all fixed penalties for summary motoring offences are not covered in this volume but are published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, ' Motoring offences and breath tests'.
Percentage 
change 12 months 
ending Mar-12 to 
Mar-13
gland and Wales (known until 1 April 
2012 as the British Crime Survey) or those recorded to the police within the same year. The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimates relate to crimes experienced in the 12 months prior to interview. Further, offenders 
found guilty in a given year may have been proceeded against in an earlier year.
(4) Excluding fraud offences.  For the year ending March 2013 figures, the Office for National Statistics published headline national crime figures that include centralised (Action Fraud) recording of fraud and a separate series 
which excludes fraud.  Due to the staggered move of recording fraud offences by forces to Action Fraud, crime figures are shown excluding fraud offences to allow for consistent comparisons.  
Table Q1.5 - Summary of criminal justice statistics, 12 months ending March 2003 to 12 months ending March 2013
12 months ending
(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 En
15 

16 
ded 
ce 
Otherwise 
dealt with
Custody  
Custody 
Rate (%)(5)
England and Wales
Offence Group
12 
months 
ending
Cannabis 
warnings
Penalty Notices 
for Disorder(1)
Cautions
Proceedings Convictions
Conviction 
Ratio (%)(2)
Proven 
Offenders(3)
Sentenced(4)
Discharged 
Fine 
Community 
Sentence 
Suspen
Senten
Average 
Custodial 
Sentence 
Length 
(months)(7)
129
1,232
14,616
35.3
18.9
986
932
12,945
37.6
20.3
530
139
3,456
57.8
52.8
477
117
3,269
59.8
55.7
Violence against the person
Mar-12
-
-
15,185
58,011
41,671
71.8
56,856
41,391
1,740
2,299
13,375
8,
Mar-13
-
-
12,626
47,518
34,697
73.0
47,323
34,407
1,488
2,258
9,798
6,
Sexual offences
Mar-12
-
-
1,485
10,084
5,998
59.5
7,483
5,978
107
108
1,638
Mar-13
-
-
1,497
9,055
5,498
60.7
6,995
5,471
88
107
1,413
Burglary
Mar-12
-
-
3,216
33,304
25,389
76.2
28,605
25,088
504
361
8,593
2,
Mar-13
-
-
2,369
27,253
21,220
77.9
23,589
20,898
323
257
6,340
2,
Robber
775
496
12,359
49.3
18.6
514
487
10,977
52.5
19.7
y
Mar-12
-
-
242
14,038
9,272
66.0
9,514
9,282
11
2,950
Mar-13
-
-
169
11,411
7,684
67.3
7,853
7,687
18
6
2,325
Theft and handling stolen goods
Mar-12
-
33,622
41,684
136,605
122,308
89.5
197,614
121,989
24,663
17,113
41,914
8,
Mar-13
-
26,819
33,326
119,840
106,884
89.2
167,029
106,186
22,224
15,848
32,319
7,
Fraud and forger
552
273
5,496
59.2
34.9
531
114
4,693
61.1
36.9
772
5,582
23,945
19.6
4.2
634
5,885
22,276
21.0
4.2
y
Mar-12
-
-
5,412
23,172
18,686
80.6
24,098
18,573
2,039
2,551
6,013
3,
Mar-13
-
-
4,556
20,089
15,737
78.3
20,293
15,531
1,532
1,975
4,686
3,
Criminal damage
Mar-12
-
-
4,597
8,943
6,959
77.8
11,556
6,886
1,311
782
2,756
Mar-13
-
-
3,578
7,443
5,620
75.5
9,198
5,523
1,124
707
2,045
Drug offences
Mar-12
77,933
16,272
42,001
66,800
60,977
91.3
197,183
60,443
8,593
22,929
12,490
4,
Mar-13
69,213
15,486
38,191
62,476
56,933
91.1
179,823
56,341
9,528
20,600
10,933
4,
Indictable motoring offences
Mar-12
-
-
-
3,524
3,123
88.6
3,123
3,155
36
240
826
Mar-13
-
-
-
3,149
2,843
90.3
2,843
2,869
34
198
693
Other indictable offences
Mar-12
-
-
5,756
62,430
45,412
72.7
51,168
45,280
3,381
11,995
7,510
4,
Mar-13
-
-
4,970
52,609
38,698
73.6
43,668
38,727
2,963
10,925
5,871
4,
Indictable offences(7)
Mar-12
77,933
49,894
119,578
416,911
339,795
81.5
587,200
338,065
42,385
58,378
98,065
34,
Mar-13
69,213
42,305
101,282
360,843
295,814
82.0
508,614
293,640
39,322
52,881
76,423
30,
Summary non-motoring
Mar-12
-
72,911
104,304
605,391
493,459
81.5
670,674
493,756
44,643
354,659
59,848
9,
Mar-13
-
58,799
92,240
565,952
453,814
80.2
604,853
453,994
40,314
333,326
50,258
8,
Summary motoring offences
Mar-12
-
-
-
534,744
462,896
86.6
462,896
462,995
6,198
432,752
14,232
4,
Mar-13
-
-
-
528,991
452,125
85.5
452,125
452,207
5,592
426,308
12,189
3,
Summary Offences
Mar-12
-
72,911
104,304
1,140,135
956,355
83.9
1,133,570
956,751
50,841
787,411
74,080
13,
Mar-13
-
58,799
92,240
1,094,943
905,939
82.7
1,056,978
906,201
45,906
759,634
62,447
12,
Table Q1.6(i) - “Proven Offenders” in the criminal justice system, by offence group and outcomes, 12 months ending March 2012 and 12 months ending March 2013
348
351
4,271
23.0
12.7
142
348
3,848
24.8
12.7
415
476
1,146
16.6
19.3
350
413
884
16.0
23.2
342
2,280
9,809
16.2
30.3
210
2,300
8,770
15.6
29.0
858
38
1,157
36.7
9.7
844
17
1,083
37.7
9.7
498
6,990
10,906
24.5
10.4
054
5,425
9,489
25.0
10.2
219
17,857
87,161
25.8
16.8
742
16,038
78,234
26.7
17.2
305
10,391
14,910
3.0
2.5
595
8,216
13,285
2.9
2.6
119
2,313
3,381
0.7
3.1
532
1,755
2,831
0.6
3.1
424
12,704
18,291
1.9
2.6
127
9,971
16,116
1.8
2.7
All Offences
Mar-12
77,933
122,805
223,882
1,557,046
1,296,150
83.2
1,720,770
1,294,816
93,226
845,789
172,145
47,643
30,561
105,452
8.2
14.3
Mar-13
69,213
101,104
193,522
1,455,786
1,201,753
82.6
1,565,592
1,199,841
85,228
812,515
138,870
42,869
26,009
94,350
7.9
14.7
(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.

17 
Explanatory notes 
 
The statistics in this bulletin relate to cases in the Crown and magistrates’ courts in 
England and Wales during 12 months ending March 2013. This bulletin subsumes a 
number of previous bulletins including Criminal Statistics: England & Wales, 
Quarterly Sentencing Statistics, and Young people aged 10-17 receiving their first 
reprimand, warning or conviction.  
 
Symbols and conventions  
 
The following symbols have been used throughout the tables in this bulletin:  
 
- = Nil 
* = Not applicable 
.. = Not available 
(R) = Revised data  
(P) = Provisional data  
 
Guidance on tables and supplementary volumes 
 
This bulletin is supported by a range of Excel spreadsheet workbooks, presenting 
statistics for the latest rolling twelve month reference period, alongside back series 
for previous comparable rolling twelve month periods where applicable. These 
workbooks can be accessed at: 
www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly-march-2013 
 
Contacts 
 
Press enquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Justice press office:  
 
Tel: xx-xxxx-xxxx  
Email: xxx@xxx.xx 
 
Other enquiries about these statistics should be directed to the Justice Statistics  
Analytical Services division of the Ministry of Justice:  
 
Mike Elkins, Chief Statistician  
Ministry of Justice, 7th Floor, 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ  
Email: xxx@xxx.xx 
 
General enquiries about the statistical work of the Ministry of Justice can be e-mailed 
to: xxx@xxx.xx 
 
General information about the official statistics system of the UK is available from: 
www.statistics.gov.uk 
 
 
 
© Crown copyright 
Produced by the Ministry of Justice 
Alternative formats are available on request from 
xxx@xxx.xx