There are over 45,530 employees in the justice sector in the North West.  As across all other regions, the largest proportion of sector employees in the region is employed in police and law enforcement (67.9%), followed by custodial care (13%).

The recorded regional crime rate in 2003-2004 was 12,121 recorded crimes per 100,000 population.  11,700 people were sentenced in the Crown Courts and 42,194 in Magistrates’ Court in 2003.  The prison population is 11,262 in the region, with a capacity of 11,625.

Workforce profile:

• males account for 61.5% of the sector workforce
• 2.4% of the workforce are from a minority ethnic background
• less than 10% of the workforce are under 25 years (which is mainly due to entry requirement)
• the majority of the workforce are aged 35-44 years

Community justice and the Crown Prosecution Service sub-sectors have the largest proportions of women in the workforce.  The Crown Prosecution Service also has a large proportion of people from a minority ethnic background (4.1%).

Source: Skills Foresight Regional Factsheet – North West 2005

For more key facts on the justice sub-sector in the region see:

Sub-sector regional information