CRIME AFTER TIME

Nats under growing pressure over crisis of 'slap in the wrist justice'

- BY MARY WRIGHT

MORE than a quarter of Scotland's most violent criminals are repeat offenders, figures have revealed.

Police Scotland data shows 28 per cent of those involved in murder, attempted murder, serious assault, robbery and domestic abuse between April and September were all serial criminals.

A total of 25 per cent of sex offenders committed further crimes, while the rate for drug, weapons, public order, cyber crime and fraud offences was 35 per cent.

And a shoplifting epidemic is fuelling the country's highest reoffending rate of 41 per cent for crimes of dishonesty.