Low-level offenders have dodged more than 16 million hours of unpaid work since 2010 – at a cost of £150m to the taxpayer, new figures obtained by Sky News show.
Statistics from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) reveal that the number of community sentences has dropped by nearly two-thirds from 189,333 in 2010 to just 68,994 in 2022.
They also found that nearly a third of offenders who are given community sentences re-offend – including 23,415 in the last year alone.
The Labour Party, which highlighted the figures, said the figures showed victims of crimes including noise nuisance, verbal abuse, threatening behaviour, vandalism and criminal damage were going “unpunished” by the government.
It said it will allow victims of anti-social behaviour to pick the punishments meted out to offenders if it forms the next government, using community and victim payback boards to enforce community sentences.
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Removing graffiti, repairing vandalism, building maintenance, environmental preservation programmes, clearing wasteland, decorating community centres and repairing churches are among the punishments that could be given out.
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Lack of prison places could see 1,500 criminals avoid time, warns Labour
Labour’s shadow justice secretary Steve Reed said the statistics showed the Conservatives are “failing to punish anti-social thugs”.
“No wonder communities feel frustrated and powerless as they watch their neighbourhoods spiral downwards into crime,” he said.
“Labour is the party of law and order. We will introduce payback boards to allow communities to decide how anti-social behaviour is punished. That’s how we will prevent crime, punish criminals and protect communities.”
As part of its plan to tackle crime – which is shaping up to be a key battleground at the next election – Labour has vowed to introduce a neighbourhood policing guarantee that will see 13,000 additional neighbourhood police and police community support officers on the streets, as well as increased town centre patrols and a guaranteed named officer and for every community.
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It will also introduce fixed penalty cleaning notices for fly-tippers and create a new criminal offence aimed at adults who repeatedly engage in anti-social behaviour.
In March, Rishi Sunak outlined new plans that will see people convicted of anti-social behaviour forced to repair the damage they have caused within two days of being told their punishment.
The scheme will be piloted in 10 areas before a rollout across England and Wales next year.
The Conservative Party has been approached for comment.
