answer text |
<p>We take threats or violence towards police officers seriously, and there are tough
sentences available for the most serious violent offences.</p><p> </p><p>The specific
offence of an assault on a police constable in the execution of his duty is a summary
only offence carrying a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment. Sentencing guidelines
issued by the independent Sentencing Council provide for custody to be the starting
point in the most serious cases. It is important to emphasise, however, that this
offence is likely to be the appropriate charge only where there is no injury or injuries
which are not serious. Where there has been a more serious assault the perpetrator
would be charged with a more serious offence such as assault occasioning actual bodily
harm, which carry long prison sentences. These are not included in the statistics
provided.</p><p> </p><p>Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent
judiciary, taking account of the circumstances of the case and the maximum penalty
for the offence.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The number of people convicted of
assaulting a police officer, in England and Wales, 2013 (latest data available) can
be viewed in table below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="12"><p><strong>Number
of people found guilty for offence relating to Assault on a constable , England &
Wales, 2013(1)(2)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Offence</p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Found
Guilty</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>7,829</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Immediate custody</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>1,002</p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Custody
rate<sup> (6)</sup></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>13%</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em> </em></p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="12"><p>(1) The figures given in the table relate to
persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt
with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence
for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for
two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory
maximum penalty is the most severe.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td
colspan="12"><p>(2) 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 large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police
forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes
and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="12"><p>(3) The proportion of offenders
sentenced who are sentenced to immediate custody.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="5"><p>Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services
- Ministry of Justice.</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>PQ 220998</p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>
</p></td></tr></tbody></table>
|
|