Introduction
This booklet contains a full list of the codes used in study output files from the Offenders Index. It should be used in conjunction with The Offenders Index: a user's guide, which contains a full description of the format of output files. The two guides together allow criminal history information extracted from the Index to be interpreted.
Output files from the Index are made up of three types of record: study offender information (type 1), court appearance information (type 2) and offence information (type 3). The codes in this booklet are set out in roughly the order in which they appear in an output file; references are made where appropriate to the position in the relevant record type at which particular codes appear. These references relate to the format of output files created on or after 1 November 1994.
The codes used for a particular record are those which applied at the time the data in question was notified to the Home Office by the police. The lists of codes which follow include any code used since 1963 and which might appear in data extracted from the Index, irrespective of whether the code is still extant. Codes can and do change over time (eg. as new offences and disposals are created and others abolished); some of the codes which appear in a study output file may no longer be in current use. In most cases old and new codes are included in a single list with, where appropriate, the date(s) when they applied. Two separate lists are given for disposals, for pre-1990 and post-1990 respectively.
I. Gender and ethnicity
Gender
The one-character code for gender appears in column 34 of record type 1 (offender information). The code is often not present.
1 Male
2 Female
3 Unknown (early years only)
Ethnicity
The one-character code for ethnicity, where recorded, appears in column 36 of record type 1.
0 Unknown
1 White European
2 Dark European
3 Afro-caribbean
4 Asian
5 Oriental
6 Arab
This code is often not recorded.
II. Grouping of offence codes and disposal codes
The Offenders Index covers data from 1963. There have been changes since that date in offence codes and disposal codes, which can cause difficulties for analysts who want to ensure consistent treatment of data over time. This Appendix gives groupings for codes which may be useful. Sections V and VIII respectively list offences and disposal codes numerically. Offences not on the standard list are not listed but these may appear on the output file when tried with standard list offences.
Offence codes: subgroups
Notes
1. Where a year is not specified, this means that the code can be used in the group or subgroup for all years 1963 to 1993, although the offences included within the code may have changed during that time.
2. Highlighted entries indicate that the year must be specified in order to define the correct offence, because the same code number has been used for different types of offences at different times.
3. Roman numerals indicate the indictable offence group used in Criminal Statistics as follows:
I Violence against the person
II Sexual offences
III Burglary
IV Robbery
V Theft and handling stolen goods
VI Fraud and forgery
VII Criminal damage
VIII Drug offences
IX Other (excluding motoring offences)
X Motoring offences
These are the categories used in most published information that breaks results down by offence category.
1. Violence against the person
Indictable
I 1 Murder
I 2 Attempted murder
I 3 Threat or conspiracy to murder
I 4 Manslaughter, etc
I 920 Death or injury to person by dangerous driving (1.7.64-31.12.86)
I 921 Aiding, abetting, causing or permitting death or injury to person by dangerous driving (1.7.6431.12.86)
I 37, subclass 1 (1992 onwards) Aggravated vehicle taking
I 5 Wounding or other act endangering life
I 6 Endangering railway passenger
I 7 Endangering life at sea
I 8 Other wounding, etc
I 9 Assault (until 1988)
I 10 Intimidation and molestation (until 1979)
I 11 Cruelty to or neglect of children
I 12 Abandoning children under two years
I 13 Child abduction
I 14 Procuring illegal abortion
I 15 Concealment of birth
IX 35 Blackmail
IX 36 Kidnapping
IX 64 Rioting
IX 65 Violent disorder
IX 81 Firearms offences (1979 onwards)
Summary
103 Aggravated assault
104 Assault on a constable
105 Common assault (up to 1974 ; all categories of common assault have become standard list offences from 1 July 1995, the coverage was much more limited in earlier years , see section V.)
109 Cruelty to or neglect of children
2. Sexual offences
2a Sexual offences with "victims"
Indictable
II 16 Buggery
II 17 Indecent assault on a male
II 19 Rape
II 20 Indecent assault on a female
II 21 Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13
II 22 Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16
II 23 Incest
II 25 Abduction
II 74 Gross indecency with a child
Summary
139 Indecent exposure
192 Gross indecency with children (1963-78)
2b Sex-related offences
Indictable
II 18 Indecency between males
II 24 Procuration
II 26 Bigamy
II 27 Soliciting by a man (1978 onwards)
IX 86 Possession of obscene material, etc (1982 onwards)
Summary
107 Keeping a brothel
166 Offences by prostitutes
187 Living on prostitutes earnings etc (1963-78)
3. Burglary
Indictable
III 27 Sacrilege (Robbing places of worship) (up to 1968)
III 28 Burglary in a dwelling
III 29 Housebreaking (1963-1968)
III 29 Aggravated burglary in a dwelling (1969-)
III 30 Burglary in a building other than a dwelling
III 31 Attempting to break into houses, shops, warehouses etc (1963-1968)
III 31 Aggravated burglary in a building other than a dwelling (1969-)
III 32 Entering with intent to commit felony (1963-68)
4. Robbery
Indictable
IV 34 Robbery and assault with intent to rob
5. Theft and handling stolen goods
5a. Theft of a vehicle
Indictable
V 37, subclass 2 Aggravated vehicle taking (1992 onwards)
V 48 Theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicle (note: before 1987 these were usually
recorded under 918; some of these offences are coded under 130 from 1989 onwards)
V 918 Unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle (1.7.6431.12.86)
Summary
126 Interference with a motor vehicle (1981 onwards)
130 Stealing and unauthorised taking (1990 onwards)
131 Aggravated vehicle taking (<£2,000)
138 Taking motor vehicle without consent of owner (1963)
5b. Theft from a vehicle
V 45 Theft from vehicle
5c. Shoplifting
Indictable
V 46 Theft from shops
5d. Other theft and handling
Indictable
V 37 Embezzlement (up to 1968)
V 38 Larceny of horses, cattle and sheep
V 39 Theft from the person of another
V 40 Theft in a dwelling other than from automatic machine or meter
V 41 Theft by an employee
V 42 Theft or unauthorised taking from mail
V 43 Abstracting electricity (note: also includes aggravated larceny from 1963 to 1968)
V 44 Theft of pedal cycle
V 47 Theft from automatic machine or meter
V 49 Other theft or unauthorised taking
V 54 Handling stolen goods
Summary
174 Stealing animals (1963-68)
176 Stealing or cutting, rooting up etc with intent to steal any tree, shrub
etc to the value of 1 shilling (19631968)
177 Stealing or destroying or damaging with intent to steal plants etc (1963-68)
181 Unlawful possession
6. Fraud and forgery
Indictable
VI 50 Obtaining goods, &c, by false pretences (1963-68)
VI 51 Frauds by company directors, etc
VI 52 False accounting
VI 53 Other fraud
VI 55 Bankruptcy offences
VI 58 Forgery and uttering (up to 1971)
VI 59 Forgery (misdemeanour) (up to 1971)
VI 60 Forgery, or use of false prescription (1972 onwards)
Coining (up to 1971 - rare)
VI 61 Other forgery, etc (including coinage and hall marking offences)
7. Criminal damage
Indictable
VII 56 Arson
VII 57 Criminal damage endangering life (excluding arson) (note: other malicious injuries
1963-71 - appears to be more common)
VII 58 Other offences of criminal damage (1972 onwards, note that criminal damage <£2,000
coded to 149 from 1989)
VII 59 Threat or possession with intent to commit criminal damage (1972 onwards)
Summary
149 Criminal damage (1963-74, 1979 onwards); various changes in thresholds eg <£400 before 1989, <£2,000 from 1989 onwards
8. Drug offences
Indictable
VIII 77 Misuse of Drugs (1972-92), Criminal Justice (International Co-operation Act 1990) (1993 onwards)
VIII 92 Misuse of drugs (1993 onwards)
VIII 93 Misuse of drugs (1993 onwards)
Summary
168 Offences in relation to Public Health
37 Possession of soft drugs (19681971)
193 Misuse of Drugs
195 subclass 5, Dangerous Drugs Acts 1965 and 1967 (up to 1971)
9. Motoring and other offences
9a. Motoring offences
Indictable
X 70 Reckless or dangerous driving
X 71 Driving under the influence of drink of drugs
X 72 Other motoring offences (196330.6.64)
X 802 Dangerous driving (standard list when tried summarily from 1 January 1996; prior to this standard list when tried on indictment)
X 814 Fraud forgery, etc associated with vehicle or driver records (standard list on indictment)
X 926 Dangerous driving (1.7.64-31.12.86)
X 958 Driving licence offences
X 960 Operator's licence offences
X 961 Aiding abetting causing or permitting operator's licence offences
X 962 Vehicle insurance offences
X 964 Vehicle registration and 0 (excise) offences
X 966 Drivers work record and employment offences
X 970 Vehicle testing offences and prescribed goods vehicles testing and plating offences
Summary
803 Driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs (803/2 standard list from 01/01/96)
807 Driving licence related offences (807/1 standard list from 01/01/96)
9b. Other offences (including summary offences on the standard list )
Indictable
IX 33 Going equipped for stealing, etc
IX 62 High Treason
IX 63 Treason Felony
IX 66 Other offences against the State or Public Order
IX 67 Perjury
IX 68 Libel
IX 75 Betting, gaming and lotteries
IX 76 Aiding suicide
IX 78 Immigration Act 1971 s25(1) (1972 onwards)
IX 79 Perverting the course of justice
IX 80 Absconding from lawful custody (1978 onwards)
IX 82 Revenue Law offences (1979 onwards)
IX 83 Failing to surrender to bail (1979 onwards)
IX 84 Trade Descriptions Act and similar legislation (1981 onwards)
IX 85 Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (1981 onwards)
IX 87 Protection from Eviction Act 1977 (1984 onwards)
IX 89 Adulteration of Food or Drugs (1984 onwards)
IX 91 Public Health offences (1984 onwards)
IX 99, or any other code < 100 not covered above. Other indictable offences
Summary
115 Firearms Act (till 1974)
165 Offences against Prevention of Crime Act for Possession of offensive weapon (19631978)
185 Vagrancy - found in enclosed premises
186 Any suspected person or reputed thief frequenting a public place with intent to commit any
arrestable offence (19631981)
194 Immigration Act offences
195 Other offences
Disposal codes: subgroups
Note: Two-digit codes relate to pre-1990; three-digit codes from 1990 onwards. Since there is some overlap in the numbers it is necessary to specify the years to which a code applies when defining disposal groups. Redlining indicates where the same code has been used for disposals in different groups at different times.
1. Absolute discharge
15 Absolute discharge
360 Absolute discharge
2. Conditional discharge
14 Conditional discharge
320 Conditional discharge
3. Fine
01 Fine (alone)
02 Fine (with some other penalty)
310 Fine with some other penalty (1990)
315 Fine alone (1990), or with some other penalty (1991-)
4. Supervision order (introduced on 1.1.71, apply to offenders aged under 17)
04 Supervision order (with requirement to comply with order) (1984-1989)
08 Supervision order (with requirement to follow directions specified in order) (1984-1989)
09 Supervision Order with requirement to refrain from participating in activities specified (CYPA 1969 - as amended by CJA 1988) (1984-1989)
30 Supervision Order with School attendance requirement (CYPA 1969 - as amended by CJA 1988) (1984-89)
63 Supervision Order with night restriction (CYPA 1969 - as amended CJA 1988) (1984 1989)
75 Supervision Order (19711989)
215 Supervision Order with residential requirement (CYPA 1969 - as amended by Childrens Act 1989)
220 Supervision Order with night restriction (CYPA 1969 - as amended by CJA 1988)
225 Supervision Order with requirement to refrain from participating in activities specified (CYPA 1969 - as amended by CJA 1988)
230 Supervision Order with School attendance requirement (CYPA 1969 - as amended by CJA 1988)
235 Supervision Order with requirement either to comply with directions of the supervisor or to follow directions specified in the order (CYPA 1969 - as amended by CJA 1988)
240 Supervision Order with other or no requirements (CPYA 1969)
5. Probation order (apply to offenders aged 17 or over, before 1971 also applied to under 17s)
18 Probation Order with nonresidential mental treatment requirement
19 Probation Order with residential mental treatment requirement
20 Probation Order with residential requirement other than mental treatment
21 Probation Order other than codes 1820 and 22
22 Probation with Day Centre/Day Training Centre Order (1973 1989)
260 Probation Order with Probation Centre requirement
262 Probation Order with requirements as to activities (1993-)
264 Probation Order with requirements as to residence (1993-)
265 Probation Order with residential mental treatment requirement (1990-1992)
266 Probation Order with mental treatment (1993-)
268 Probation Order with drug/alcohol treatment (1993-)
270 Probation Order with nonresidential mental treatment requirement (1990-1992)
275 Probation Order with residential requirement other than mental treatment (1990-1992)
280 Probation Order other than codes 260 to 275
6. Community Service Order (apply to offenders aged 17 and over, 16 and over from 24.5.83)
46 Community Service Order (1973 1989)
170 Community Service Order (1990-1991), not within a Combination Order (1992-)
7. Combination Order (1992-) (apply to offenders aged 16 and over)
165 Community Service Order within Combination Order (1992-)
8. Attendance Centre Order (apply to offenders aged under 21)
23 Attendance Centre
180 Attendance Centre
9. Care Order (1.1.1971 till 14.10.1991) (apply to offenders aged under 17)