OVER A THIRD OF CRIMINALS RELEASED ON TAGS REOFFENDING WITHIN A YEAR

MORE than a third of criminals given electronic tags are reconvicted within a year, official figures have revealed.

The number of sex offenders who get convicted again has also risen, according to Scottish Government statistics.

But ministers claim that a fall in the overall reconviction rate – to 27 per cent, a 19-year-low – proves the SNP’s justice agenda is working.

Shorter jail sentences are being effectively phased out in favour of community service but critics warn public safety is put at risk. Scottish Labour justice spokesman Daniel Johnson said: ‘With one in four prisoners going on to commit further crimes, there is clearly much more work to be done.’

The reconviction rate for tagged criminals was 33.9 per cent in 2015-1 , figures published yesterday show – up from 33.7 per cent the previous year.

Meanwhile, 2. per cent of sex offenders are reconvicted of a sexual offence within a year – up from 2.3 per cent in 2014-15. But overall, the number of offenders convicted of another crime within 12 months fell from 28.3 per cent to 27 per cent between 2014-15 and 2015-1 .

Men were more likely to be reconvicted than women.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said he was ‘determined to ensure victims are at the heart of the justice system’.

He added: ‘By ensuring rehabilitation and reintegration remains a key focus of our reforms, we can continue to reduce reoffending.’