Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest number of total previous offences a (a) male and (b) female offender committed before being given an immediate custodial sentence in each of the last five years.

Sentencing is a matter for our independent courts, who take into account all circumstances of the case, including any aggravating and mitigating factors. We are clear that sentencing must match the severity of a crime.

However, sentences should also rehabilitate. There is persuasive evidence showing community sentences, in certain circumstances, are more effective than short custodial sentences in reducing reoffending. The MoJ study ‘The impact of short custodial sentences, community orders and suspended sentence orders on re-offending’ published in 2015 found that over a 1-year follow up period, a higher proportion of people re-offended having been sentenced to custody of under 12 months without supervision on release than other similar people given community orders.

Unless we tackle the underlying causes of offending, we cannot protect the public from being victims of crime. Effective community orders can address offenders’ behaviour, answer their mental health and alcohol or drug misuse needs, and provide reparation for the benefit of the wider community.

Data on the highest number of previous offences committed by an offender who received their first immediate custodial sentence can be viewed in the table. This information is broken down by males and females, and covers the period year ending September 2014 – year ending September 2018.