A new report compares reoffending rates of under-17s and adults who have been given a non-custodial disposal at court, a diversionary disposal or who have been released from custody during 2014/15.

Of the 23,627 people included in the 2014/15 cohort, 4,221 (17.9 per cent) reoffended during the one-year observational period.

Of the 4,221 who reoffended, over two-fifths (43.6 per cent) committed their first reoffence within the first three months.

However, young people were much more likely to quickly reoffend. Of the 1,563 young offenders included in the 2014/15 youth cohort, 503 (32.2 per cent) committed a proven reoffence within a year following being released from custody, receiving a non-custodial disposal at court or receiving a diversionary disposal. Almost half (46.9 per cent) of the reoffenders committed their first reoffence within three months.

Of the 22,064 adult offenders included in the 2014/15 cohort, 3,718 (16.9 per cent) committed a proven reoffence within a year. Overall, 43.2 per cent of the 3,718 reoffended within three months.