In Mendip, recent statistics have revealed that one in five criminals reoffended within a year of their conviction or release from prison.

This worrying trend has sparked a call for further investment in housing, education, and employment to break the cycle of reoffending.

According to Ministry of Justice data, out of 392 offenders in Mendip released from prison, cautioned, or given a non-custodial conviction in the year up to September 2021, 82 individuals reoffended. This marked a reoffending rate of 20.9%, an increase from the 19.2% recorded the previous year. The 2020-21 figures also included four juveniles.

Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, stressed the effectiveness of community sentences over prison terms in reducing reoffending rates. "If someone needs support to move away from crime, they will have better access to the services that can help them if they are being supervised in the community than if they are locked in a prison cell for hours on end with nothing to do," he said. Neilson also highlighted the crucial role of stable housing and employment in preventing crime, advocating for investment in societal infrastructure over prison construction.

Nationally, the rate of reoffending across England and Wales was 24.3% for 2020-21, showing a decline from 25.1% the previous year and continuing a gradual year-on-year decrease.

However, Neilson pointed out that these figures coincide with a period when courts were disrupted by the pandemic. He expressed concern about the strain this places on the prison population, leading to overcrowding and resource limitations that hinder rehabilitation.

The data also showed that the average number of previous offences per criminal was nearly 19, a figure lower than the previous three years but higher than in any other year since 2010-11. In Mendip, the average was 12 previous offences per offender.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson commented on the declining reoffending rates since 2010, which have fallen from over 31% to just over 24%. The Government's efforts in rehabilitation focus on addressing drug addiction, boosting employment for offenders, and providing basic accommodation upon release. The spokesperson added, "We've also more than doubled the number of offenders wearing alcohol tags and have been GPS tagging thousands more burglars and robbers ultimately keeping our communities safer."