Reoffending crime rates increase at record high

The number of convicted criminals reoffending has reached an all-time high, despite the fact that the number of first time offenders has dropped in England and Wales. 

Around 89.9% of those sentenced in 2011 were reoffenders and there has been a drop of 1.8% in first time offenders from 11.9% in 2001 to 10.1% in 2011. Around 31.2% of defendants have been convicted of or linked to 15 or more serious crimes which is an increase of 13.3% since 2001.

The number of life sentences given rose from 384 in 2010 to 295 in 2011 and the number of sentences over 10 years given, rose by 30.5%. 

The number of indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPPs) dropped by 13.5%. The Sentencing Council’s Crown Court Sentencing Survey explained: “Only a small proportion of offenders sentenced to an IPP have been released at the end of the minimum term tariff”, meaning the majority of prisoners served a longer sentence. 

There has also been an increase in the number of cautions given for sexual offences, from 1,364 in 2010 to 1,532 last year. The number of convictions for sexual offences has risen from 5,788 in 2010 to 5,977 in 2011, when 9,919 cases were brought to the courts. 

Researchers went on to explain that fewer than 10% of parole board hearings resulted in the prisoner being freed and said: “Therefore, the actual amount of time spent in prison is likely to be higher.” Sentence lengths rose to an average of 13.7 months in 2010 to 14.7 months in 2011.

Abbie Cavendish