Only 0.5% of UK crimes result in prison sentences

New data from the UK Ministry of Justice shows that only 0.5% of crimes resulted in prison sentences in the year to September 2024. Of approximately 13 million crimes, just 71,573 offenders were sentenced to jail. The analysis reveals that 99.5% of criminals avoid jail, with many prolific offenders receiving reduced sentences. The number of career criminals not jailed has nearly tripled since 2007, raising concerns about public safety. Police recorded 5.4 million offences, but nearly 41% were closed without a suspect. Only 2.4% of total crimes led to a conviction, highlighting significant gaps in the criminal justice system.