Key statistics

• Figure 1 enforcement action taken by HSE, Great Britain, 2000/01 – 2003/04 provisional
• Figure 2 average levels of fines per case, Great Britain – 2000/01 – 2003/04 provisional
• Figure 3 average levels of fines per case in England, Scotland, Wales and Great Britain 2002/03 – 2003/04 provisional
• Figure 4 average fine per offence prosecuted, Great Britain, by sector 2002/03 – 2003/04 provisional
• Figure 5 Total number of cases prosecuted by HSE’s field operations directorate, and numbers of duty holders convicted, GB 2000/01-2003/4 provisional
• Figure 6 Total offences prosecuted and those leading to conviction, GB, 2000/01- 2003/04 provisional
• Figure 7 Number of improvement notices Issued by HSE, by sector 2003/04 provisional
• Figure 7.1 Comparison of number of improvement notices by HSE, by sector 2003/04 provisional
• Figure 8 Number of prohibition notices issued by HSE, by sector 2002/03-200304 provisional
• Figure 8.1 Comparison of number of prohibition notices issued by HSE by sector, 2002/03 provisional
• Glossary of terms used within the statistics section
• Further Figures for 2003/2004
  

---

Figure 1 - Enforcement Action taken HSE, Great Britain, 2000/01 – 2003/04p

p = provisional Full Data Tables

• Figure 1 shows that the number of cases prosecuted increased by 8% in Great Britain last year, though it is about the same as in recent years.
• In 2002/03 there was a particularly high number of notices issued in Great Britain. There was a marked increase in the number of improvement notices issued in construction and agriculture. This was because HSE inspectors paid extra attention to these priority areas. This has continued during 03/04. Last year the total number of notices issued has returned to a figure similar to that of 2000/01 and 2001/02. The fall is the result of fewer notices being issued in the manufacturing and services sector.

[back to top]

---

Figure 2 - Average fine per case prosecuted by HSE's Field Operations Directorate, Great Britain - 2000/01 - 2003/04 provisional

p = provisional Full Data Tables

• The average fine per case increased by 58% last year in Great Britain.
• If fines of £100,000 or more are excluded, the average fine in 2002/03 was £8,054 and £9,415 in 2003/04p.

[back to top]

---

Figure 3 - Average Level of Fine per Case in England, Scotland, Wales, and Great Britain 2002/03 – 2003/04p

p = provisional Full Data Table

• Last year, across Great Britain, the average fine has increased.

[back to top]

---

Figure 4 - Average Fine for Offences Prosecuted, Great Britain, by Sector 2002/03 – 2003/04p

p = provisional Full Data Tables

• There has been an increase in the average fine across all sectors, especially in the extractive industries, where there has been a 139% increase.

[back to top]

---

Figure 5 - Total Number Of Cases Prosecuted By HSE’s Field Operations Directorate, and Number of Duty Holders Convicted, Great Britain, 2000/01 - 03/04p

p = provisional Full data table

• Figure 5 shows that the total number of cases prosecuted by Field Operations Directorate (FOD) in Great Britain has increased by 6%, and the number of cases convicted has increased by 2% over the last 12 months.
• The proportion of cases that led to a conviction (for one or more offences prosecuted) in 2003/04p is 90%, slightly lower than last year’s figure of 93%.
• Most HSE prosecutions are by FOD, 911 out of a total of 982.
• The above comparison is only available for FOD, and not for HSE as a whole.

[back to top]

---

Figure 6 - Total Offences Prosecuted and those Leading to a Conviction, Great Britain, 2000/01 – 2003/04p

p = provisional Full data tables 

• The total number of offences prosecuted in Great Britain has risen by 6% over the last year. The number of these offences leading to a conviction has risen by 3%.
• The proportion of offences prosecuted leading to a conviction is 74%.

[back to top]

---

Figure 7 - Number of Improvement Notices Issued by HSE in Great Britain, by Sector 2002/03 – 2003/04p

p = provisional Full data table

• The total number of improvement notices issued in 2003/2004p was 6,776 as compared to 8,140 in 2002/2003.
• The manufacturing sector continues to receive the most improvement notices, with the extractive industries receiving the least.
• The largest percentage changes over the last 12 months can be seen in the manufacturing sector, where the number of improvement notices decreased by 27%, and in the services sector with a 19% decrease.
• There is a slight rise of 3% in the number of improvement notices issued to the construction sector.

[back to top]

---

Figure 7.1 - Number of Improvement Notices Issued by HSE, by Sector 2003/04p

p = provisional

[back to top]

---

Figure 8 - Number of Prohibition Notices issued by HSE by Sector, 2002/03 – 2003/04p

p = provisional Full data tables

• The total number of prohibition notices issued in 2003/04p is 4,519 compared to 5,184 in 2002/03.
• The construction still receives the largest amount of prohibition notices.
• The largest percentage change in the number of prohibition notices issued in the last 12 months is in the manufacturing sector, showing a 30% decrease.

[back to top]

---

Figure 8.1 - Number of Prohibition Notices Issued in HSE by Sector, 2003/04p

P = provisional

[back to top]

---

Glossary of terms

Provisional: These figures may change as final details emerge.

HSWA: The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 .

Complaint: In Scotland a case against one employer, individual or other duty holder. This may involve more than one offence prosecuted.

Case: A case against one employer, individual or other duty holder may involve more than one offence prosecuted. Offence prosecuted: Each offence prosecuted represents a separate ‘charge’ (or one ‘information laid’ in England and Wales or one ‘charge preferred’ in Scotland).

Breach: An alleged offence under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and related provisions.

Duty Holder: A person with a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

[back to top]

---

Further Figures for 2003/2004

• The average fine per offence prosecuted in the higher courts in Great Britain is £33,036. This is a 79% increase on last year’s average of £18,427.
• The average fine per offence prosecuted in the lower courts in Great Britain is £4,036. This is a 7% increase on last year’s average of £3,777.
• The average in cases following a death is £43,113, this is a 27% increase on last year’s average of £31,262.
• The average fine for offences prosecuted under sections 2,3,4 and 6 (the general duties) Of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act is £11,671. This is a 17% increase on last year’s average of £9,972.· The average fine for a breach of the regulations was £3447.
• 25 employees were prosecuted last year, of whom 19 were convicted. The average fine was £842