Το THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR WILLIAM JOYNSONHICKS, BART., M.P., HIS MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL •SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT Sir, I have the honour to submit the Criminal Statistics of England and Wales for the year 1926 containing the statistics relative to crime and criminal proceedings. The Tables are in the same form as in the volume for the preceding year. The Introduction has been prepared by Mr. W. J. Farrant, I.S.O., whose long and valuable connexion with the Statistical Branch of the Home Office will end upon his retirement on 8th March, 1928. Home Office, February, 1928. I am Sir, Your obedient Servant, JOHN ANDERSON. The numbers of the Parliamentary Papers containing the previous volumes of the Criminal The volume for 1893 contains the Principal Report of the Criminal Statistics Committee, From 1805 to 1856 Tables of Trials at Assizes and Quarter Sessions were printed annually INTRODUCTORY NOTE. OFFENCES. In 1926 the number of indictable offences known to the police was 133,460, being 19,474 or 17 per cent. more than in 1925, and 26,623 or 25 per cent. more than the annual average for the five years 1920-4 inclusive. 96 per cent. of the increase occurred within nine only of the 84 headings of the classified list of indictable offences, and 73 per cent. of the increase fell within the heading of "simple larceny and minor larcenies." The increase in indictable offences occurred almost wholly in the colliery districts and appears to be attributable to the effects of the stoppage in the coal-mining industry and of the general strike. Thus there were 36 cases of riot against 13 in 1925 and 41 of intimidation against 9 in 1925. During the period from 1st May to 19th December (when the Emergency Regulations expired) 7,960 persons in all were proceeded against for offences (whether indictable or non-indictable) connected with the coal stoppage and the general strike; 4,656 of them for offences against the ordinary law and 3,304 for breaches of the Emergency Regulations. Doubtless many other offences were connected, less directly, with the same events. Öffences of simple larceny and minor larcenies rose from 66,926 in 1925 to 81,211 in 1926. In the mining districts, many of the larcenies were thefts of coal or other fuel. Other larcenies may have been committed by thieves who took advantage of the diversion of police from ordinary duties during the stoppage. The number of persons charged with non-indictable offences that were dealt with summarily in 1926 was 602,637, being 8,164 or 1.3 per cent. less than in 1925 (610,801) but 44,382 or 8 per cent. more than the annual average for the five years 1920–4 (558,255). Of the 602,637 persons charged, 163,301 were prosecuted for offences in relation to motor cars, 69,167 for other offences against Highway Acts, 72,061 for drunkenness, 63,376 for offences against police regulations and 31,899 for assaults. Charges of Intimidation increased from 105 in 1925 to 994 in 1926; Malicious Damage from 13,711 to 20,301; offences against the Poor Law (except neglecting family, &c.) from 1,551 to 2,765; offences against Fishery Laws from 476 to 793; offences against the Game Laws from 3,892 to 4,602; stealing animals, fences, fruit, &c. from 2,658 to 3,564; and "Other Offences" (which heading includes certain offences against Emergency Regulations that do not fall under other specific headings) from 4,662 to 7,179. On the other hand, charges of Betting and Gaming fell from 10,866 to 8,273; Street Gaming (Vagrancy Act) from 18,281 to 11,931; offences against the Labour Laws (except Intimidation) from 9,041 to 7,815; and Neglecting Family, &c. from 2,006 to 1,823. THE WORK OF THE CRIMINAL COURTS. 686,512 persons were brought before the Courts on criminal charges, 79,591 of whom were charged with indictable offences and 606,921 with non-indictable offences. Of the 79,591 persons charged with indictable offences, 1,731 were discharged by Courts of Summary Jurisdiction (the evidence not warranting committal for trial), 69,695 were dealt with summarily, 7,919 were committed for trial, and as regards 246, the criminal proceedings ended in various ways, e.g., were adjourned sine die, or the accused absconded. while on bail, and so on. 606,921 persons were charged with non-indictable offences, of whom 4,284 for various reasons were not dealt with by the Courts. Assizes and Quarter Sessions.-7,924 persons came up for trial at Courts of Assizes or Quarter Sessions, of whom 3,406 were for trial at Assizes and 4,517 at Quarter Sessions. One person was tried in the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice. Of the 7,924 persons who were brought up for trial, 98 were not actually tried the prosecution of 4 of them was not proceeded with; Grand Juries returned "No Bill" against 70; 24, including 5 charged with murder, were found insane on arraignment. Of 7,826 persons actually tried, 1,447 were acquitted; 6,350 were convicted; 29 (of whom 18 were charged with murder) were found guilty but insane. 24 persons convicted of murder were sentenced to death; 504 persons were sentenced to various terms of penal servitude; 3,785 were sentenced to imprisonment; and 354 to Borstal detention. 1,595 persons were released on recognizances, most of them under the Probation of Offenders Act; 597 of these were placed under the supervision of Probation Officers. Court of Criminal Appeal.-401 out of 6,350 persons convicted upon indictment made applications to the Court of Criminal Appeal for leave to appeal, some applications being heard by a single Judge and some by the full Court, either in first instance or after refusal by a single Judge. Fifty-eight persons abandoned their applications; leave to appeal was refused in 278 cases and granted in 65, in addition to which there were 5 appeals on grounds involving questions of law, 3 appeals with the Certificate of the Judge at trial, and 12 appeals against sentence of Preventive Detention. Nine convictions were affirmed on appeal; 23 convictions were simply quashed; 2 convictions were quashed and convictions for other offences substituted. Twenty-four sentences (including 12 of Preventive Detention) were affirmed; 3 were simply quashed; 24 sentences were quashed, but other sentences were substituted. Courts of Summary Jurisdiction. The total number of persons charged with criminal offences (whether indictable or non-indictable) who were actually dealt with summarily by the Courts of Summary Jurisdiction was 672,332. In 56,250 cases, or 8 per cent., the charge was |