§ Mr. Gordon MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the level of re-offending among those young offenders who are released on bail. [89363]
§ Mr. George HowarthHome Office research in 1997 found that 38 per cent. of juveniles bailed by the police or courts committed offences while on bail. The relevant report is in the Library: Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate Research Findings No 72, "Offending on bail and police use of conditional bail 1998".
The Government have since made up to £35 million available to the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales for bail support and supervision schemes and other remand-related initiatives. Together with the Board and local youth justice services, they are also taking steps to speed up the operation of the youth justice system, which would reduce time spent on bail.