Middlesbrough criminals among the most likely to reoffend in the country

Criminals in Middlesbrough are among the most likely to reoffend in the country.

Nearly one third - 32.9% - of adult and child criminals in Middlesbrough have definitely committed at least one further offence within a year of being convicted, or 18 months if they had to go to court.

That is higher than any other local authority area in the country.

Hartlepool has the highest rate in the country overall at 35.6%.

In Middlesbrough, the rate has come down between 2005 to 2012. It was 34.1% in 2005.

Justice Minister Andrew Selous said: “Reoffending rates remain too high - too many honest, hardworking people are being mugged, burgled or worse by criminals who have already broken the law.

“Prisoners sentenced to less than 12 months currently get no support on release and this group have the highest reoffending rates, with almost 60 per cent returning to crime within a year of release.

“Through our crucial reforms to probation we are finally addressing this glaring gap. Making sure all prisoners get the support they need to turn away from crime will be vital in reducing reoffending and making our communities safer.”

The average criminal in Middlesbrough had an average of 19.2 offences on their record already - again one of the highest in England and Wales. The average nationally was 12.1 offences.

There were 1,006 criminals in Middlesbrough who broke the law again soon after their initial appearance in the justice system.

This hard core of criminals committed an average of 3.6 offences each.

Overall in England and Wales the reoffending rate is 26% - the lowest since at least 2005.

The figures in Stockton and Redcar and Cleveland are better than in Middlesbrough - but still higher than the national average.

Stockton’s reoffending rate was 28.5%, which saw 643 reoffenders commit an average of 3.37 offences each.

27.1% of offenders strayed again in Redcar and Cleveland - 664 criminals committed an average of 2.87 crimes each.

The data comes from monitoring offenders after their previous brushes with the law, which could be after they were released from prison, received a non-custodial sentence at court or receiving a caution, reprimand or other warning.

If they commit another offence that leads them back to the police or the justice system within either 12 or 18 months, depending on the time it takes to deal with them, then they are classed as reoffenders.