5,000 offences by those on bail
NEARLY 5,000 criminals in the North East committed an offence while on bail, new figures reveal.
Exclusive figures from the Ministry of Justice show that 4,983 offenders were convicted of an offence while on bail in the North East in the year approaching June 2017.
In Northumbria, there were 4,075 offenders who were convicted of an offence while on bail in the year to June 2017. This included 2,153 offenders who were convicted of offences serious enough to be tried at the crown court.
The number of offenders in Northumbria convicted of crimes while on bail has fallen from 5,225 in the year to June 2016, 5,819 in the year to June 2015, and 7,292 in the year to June 2014.
There were 771 offenders who were convicted of an offence while on bail in Durham in the year to June 2017, including 435 offenders who were convicted of offences serious enough to be tried at the crown court.
The number of offenders in Durham convicted of crimes while on bail has fallen from 1,051 in the year to June 2016, 1,048 in the year to June 2015, and 1,083 in the year to June 2014.
Ron Hogg, Police Crime and Victims’ Commissioner for County Durham and Darlington, said: “The public will be rightly concerned about the number of offences that have been committed by people who have already been arrested and bailed. Reoffending rates are also high amongst people who have been to prison.”
He said new approaches need to be taken to stop people from reoffending.
“I want our partners to work together to tackle the root causes of re-offending, and also to help to rehabilitate offenders so that they can change their lifestyle and make a positive contribution to society.”
Across the North East, 249 offenders convicted of an offence while on bail had committed a burglary and 34 offenders were found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm while on bail in the year to June 2017. In the year ending June 2017, 36 offenders were found guilty of sex offences against children, with 30 found guilty of other sex offences while on bail.
The figures come from a Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Justice. However, figures may be higher, as the Ministry of Justice said that there is no mandatory requirement for information in relation to offences committed whilst an individual is on bail to be recorded on the Police National Computer. Northumbria Police refused to comment on the figures.