Prosecutions drop despite rising crime rates, MoJ figures show

New figures revealed by the Ministry of Justice have shown the lowest levels of prosecution for 25 years. The number of people being sentenced to prison has dropped by 9 per cent in 12 months from 84,100 to 76,800. In 2009, the number of jail prosecutions was as high as 100,200. 

 

In total, the number of people who were formally prosecuted by the criminal justice system in England and Wales was 1.38million in the year to March 2019. This is the lowest figure on record and down by approximately 250,000 when compared to 1.63 million in 2019. 

 

These figures show that just 6.5 percent of all prosecutions result in jail sentences, compared to 7.4 percent in 2009. 

 

Concerns have been raised as the number of prosecution has dropped despite rising levels of crime and record levels of knife crime.

 

Chairman of the Bar Council, Richard Atkins said: "Criminals up and down the country will be rubbing their hands with glee knowing that even if their crimes are detected and they are caught by the police, the chances of being prosecuted or jailed are slim."

 

John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation, said: "The public must have faith in the criminal justice system. For that to happen there must be significant wholesale investment at every level to ensure that those who commit crime are brought to account and made to face the consequences of their actions."

 

This report follows shortly after Boris Johnson called for tougher sentences for violent and sexual offenders as part of a review that could see them serving longer jail terms. The Prime Minister has pledged to reverse this declining trend with 20,000 extra police officers to help combat the increase in violent crime and improve the rates of prosecution.

 

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We are doing more to restore public confidence in the justice system, investing in police and prison places and reviewing sentencing to make sure violent and sexual offenders are properly punished."