The statistics available through this table are based on criminal charges finalised in a calendar year.
Each offence committed by a person may result in a charge being laid in court. Sometimes one incident may lead to several charges. (For example, people convicted of fraud are often facing a number of charges.) Each charge will have a separate outcome, and sentence (if convicted).
Charge statistics provide information on the number of offences prosecuted each year, and also the number of convictions. They indicate the volume and type of offences being processed by courts.
For a better indication of the number of offenders being dealt with by the court, consult the person based statistics.