ONE in 10 criminals went on to reoffend across Swindon, according to government figures.

Statistics from the Ministry of Justice show 1,710 offenders were monitored over 12 months and 10.58 per cent went on to commit a further crime. The snapshot of offenders covers a wide range of crimes from low level to high risk and are used to monitor re-offending rates.

The figures cover the 12 month period from October 2009 to September 2010.

The actual re-offending rate of 10.58 per cent was higher than the predicted re-offending rate for Swindon of 9.18 per cent. In addition, a sample of 3,049 offenders were monitored in Wiltshire of which 10.13 per cent re-offended – higher than the predicted 8.78 per cent.

Sample sizes vary across each area but are all based on a selection of different offenders. Across the South West based on 43,322 released prisoners, 9.83 per cent committed further crimes. Bristol had the highest re-offending percentage rate at 11.49, followed by Swindon. Cornwall had the lowest rate at 7.14.

Wiltshire Probation’s assistant chief executive Riana Taylor said: “Wiltshire Probation Trust is currently the highest performing Trust in the country for each one of the National Probation Service’s four performance criteria, covering public protection, offender management, interventions and organisational capability.

“The Trust also achieved an excellent rating in the last Offender Management Inspection that was conducted by her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation and was particularly commended for its good quality work in managing offenders and keeping communities safe from crime.”

Wiltshire Probation bosses say a range of initiatives in place to reduce re-offending included drug and alcohol intervention programmes, cross community working, and targeted work with offenders that display high risk of re-offending trends, for example linking offending trends to type of offence, age and criminogenic factors.

The snapshot measure was introduced in 2007/8 as a tool to provide local probation Trusts with quarterly data on trends in reoffending. The MoJ figures indicate re-offending rates have increased by 15.29 per cent across Swindon and 15.42 in Wiltshire since its introduction.

An MoJ spokesman said: “This is indicative data providing local areas with trends on reoffending – not the national measure of reoffending.”

"It is encouraging to see reoffending has decreased by 1.5 per cent since 2007/08 across England and Wales. However the Government is not complacent and through a revolution in rehabilitation we will help offenders get off drugs, move into work, and manage mental illness. This will see fewer victims and less offenders slipping back into lives of crime.

"Probation Service staff carry out extremely valuable work to protect the public, reduce re-offending and support victims. They play a vital role in helping to cut crime and turning very difficult individuals' lives around."