New government figures have revealed that hundreds of north-east criminals – arrested in 2014 – were back behind bars within a year.
The statistics highlighted that 852 offenders in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire were re-convicted within 12 months.
And they showed that 27.1% of those released from prison or who completed a community payback order were caught committing another crime in the next 12 months.
A total of 3,415 people were convicted during 2014-15 at Aberdeen, Banff, Stonehaven and Peterhead Sheriff Courts from a total of 43,634 across Scotland.
However, Scottish Government chiefs have hailed the figures, which demonstrated a reoffending average of 28.2% across Scotland – the lowest for 18 years.
In the last ten years, this number has dropped by 4.3%, from 32.5% in 2005-06.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “These figures show we are continuing to make good progress on tackling reoffending – a key goal of this government’s justice strategy.
“The continued fall in re-convictions is down to hard work from partners across Scottish justice, working together to prevent offending and keep our communities safe.
“This is further evidence to back up our position that robust community sentences, particularly community payback orders, are more effective at reducing reoffending than short custodial sentences.”
Sharon Spirrat, director of operations at community justice charity Sacro, said the drive towards moving away from short prison sentences to community payback programmes was pushing down reoffending.
She added: “What these figures highlight is that, when people go into prison for a short period of time, then there can be issues.
“If you are handed a six-month sentence, you may only serve three and then you are right back out into your old life.
“It can cost between £34,000 and £36,000 to keep someone in prison for just a year. Trying to address the causes of offending first can prove cheaper in the long run.”
But Martin Greig, chairman of the Grampian Community Safety Partnership, called for tougher sentences to be imposed on persistent re-offenders.
He said: “Much effort is made to integrate offenders into daily life.
“It’s well known there is a small number of criminals who keep reoffending again and again, which is frustrating for residents who have to live with the consequences.
“Tougher custodial sentences are needed for these hard-line criminals who habitually commit crimes.”
Police Scotland declined to comment on the report.
