2,000 violent offences committed within 12 months of release
1 Apr 2014 03:07 PM
Shocking figures showing the number of offenders
who commit violence against a person, a sexual offence, burglary and theft
offences in the 12 months after release from custody, have today been released
by the Justice Secretary.
Offenders, who were released from short sentences in
2011, received little if any support under the current structure of probation
services and a staggering 2,235 went on to commit a burglary, 9,172 went on to
commit a theft (excluding burglaries), 1,991 committed an offence of violence
against the person and 115 committed a sexual offence in the year following
release.
Reforms under the Offender Rehabilitation Act will now
mean this group of offenders would be subject to at least 12 months’
supervision and rehabilitation in the community. Those most in need of help to
turn their lives around will finally receive the support they
need.
As
part of the changes to rehabilitative services, a new and refocused public
sector National Probation Service (NPS) will be tasked with protecting the
public from the most dangerous offenders and 21 Community Rehabilitation
Companies (CRCs) across England and Wales will work to rehabilitate medium and
low risk offenders.
Chris Grayling said:
These figures highlight the staggering effect
re-offending has on our communities, and the volume of victims suffering at the
hands of career criminals. The need to reform rehabilitation is abundantly
clear.
For
too long we have released these prisoners back onto the streets with £46
in their pockets, and little else, in the hope they would sort themselves out
— it’s little wonder things haven’t
improved.
Through our reforms to rehabilitation, we can start to
turn the tide on this problem, and create a safer society with fewer victims of
crime.
Figures also released today reveal the stark reality of
offences committed, in the year ending September 2013. Over 14,600 offenders
had 50 or more previous convictions, three per cent of those sentenced in the
period.
Chris Grayling continued:
Thousands of crimes are committed each year by those who
have broken the law before. Our reforms we will see the best of the private,
voluntary and community sectors working hand in hand to crack the stubborn
cycle of reoffending.
A
nationwide network of resettlement prisons is also being created so nearly all
offenders are released into the area in which they will live and be
supervised.
Providers will only be paid in full if they are
successful at reducing reoffending, making hardworking tax-payers’ money
go further.
Notes to editors
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For
further information contact the MOJ press office on 0203 334
35362.
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Re-offending
statistics
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The
Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 received Royal Assent on 13 March
2014
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Further information on
Transforming Rehabilitation