More persistent criminals in West Yorkshire than UK average (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

More persistent criminals in West Yorkshire than UK average

9:26am Tuesday 9th March 2010 in

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The number of well-known criminals being tracked by West Yorkshire Police is increasing – bucking the national trend.

According to Home Office information there are now 631 prolific and priority offenders (PPOs) across the region, compared with 434 in 2005/6.

A PPO is a persistent offender, and many are believed to have drug problems and commit crime to fuel their habit.

The main aims of the programme are to catch and convict offenders who commit most crime in the area, to rehabilitate and resettle the PPOs, and prevent and deter by offering help to get lives back on track.

It is thought about ten per cent of people are responsible for about half of all crime.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “West Yorkshire Police are committed to reducing the number of crimes committed by prolific and persistent offenders.

“Through the Integrated Offender Management programme, the police, probation service, local authority and a number of other key agencies work together to prevent people starting out on a life of crime, or for those already offending to break the cycle of reoffending.

“By providing support and guidance in the areas of education, housing and drug rehabilitation we provide offenders an opportunity to become law-abiding members of society.”

Nationally, the number of PPOs have fallen from 17,007 in 2005/6 to 15,126 in 2008/9.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: “The published evaluation of the prolific and other priority offender programme in 2004 showed that the offenders first taken on the programme in September and October 2004 reduced their convictions by 62 per cent over their first 17 months on the programme.”