WILD WEST BRITAIN

lion offenders were convicted in the year to September 2018 – a 3 per cent decrease on the previous year. however, the conviction ratio increased to 87 per cent – the highest in a decade.

Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Wera hobhouse said: ‘ The criminal justice system is failing in its central purpose – to stop offenders committing more crimes.

‘our prisons are overcrowded, with too many people on pointless short-term sentences. And probation services are unable to deliver the services offenders need to go straight.’

She added: ‘ We demand urgent reforms to break the cycle of reoffending, including an end to shortterm sentences and proper funding for rehabilitation services.’

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: ‘ under this Government, the most serious offenders are more likely to go to prison – and for longer.

‘Sentencing is a matter for independent courts, who take into account the full facts of each case.’

he added: ‘We are tackling reoffending by strengthening alternatives to custody, boosting rehabilitation and investing in treatment for mental health and substance misuse to tackle the root cause of repeat-offending.

‘our probation reforms mean we are now monitoring around 40,000 offenders who would previously have been released with no supervision at all.’