The Probation Re-offending Statistics publication provides information on the level of recorded re-offending by individuals placed under the management of the Probation Service. The information in this publication primarily relates to individuals who entered the Probation Service in 2017.

The probation re-offending rate is the percentage of individuals issued with a probation order during a reference year who were convicted of any crime incident that was recorded within three years of the date of their probation sentence. The resulting conviction relating to the incident must then be obtained within two years of the date when the incident was recorded. For example, if an offender was sentenced to probation on December 31st, 2014 and they committed an offence on December 31st, 2017 for which a conviction was obtained on or before December 31st, 2019 they would be included as a re-offender.

Key findings:

• In 2017, just under one third (29%) of individuals that received a probation order re-offended within a year of receiving the order. See Table 1.1 and Figure 1.1 (on CSO website).
• The 1-year probation re-offending rate for 2017 (29%) is broadly similar to the same measure for 2016 (31%) and 2015 (30%). See Table 1.1 and Figure 1.1.
• In the most recent year for which a 3-year re-offending rate is available (2015), 49% of individuals who received a probation order in 2015 committed at least one re-offence for which they received a conviction. See Table 1.1 and Figure 1.1.
• Males (28%) that received a probation order in 2017 were marginally more likely to re-offend within a year of receiving a probation than females (27%). See Table 3.1.
• Individuals who receive probation orders tend to re-offend less when they are older, with just 8% of over 65’s re-offending within a year of receiving probation. In contrast, 42% of under 18’s who received probation in 2017 re-offended within a year. See Table 3.1.
• In 2017, the highest number of probation orders were issued to individuals who committed offences related to Theft and related offences (971 persons). This category contained the 3rd highest one year re-offending rate with 35% of individuals (344) re-offending. Offences related to Public Order and other social code offences had the highest level of 1-year re-offending where 38% of individuals (203 in total) re-offending within a year. See Table 3.1.

Just over 4 in 10 (43%) of the re-offending that takes place within a year of probation by adults under 25 takes place in just two offence categories, Public order (22%) and Road and Traffic offences (21%). Also, Controlled drug (14%) and Theft and related offences (14%) account for more than a quarter of other re-offending convictions. See Table 3.6.