CEEFAX 2 141 Thu 17 Sep 17:59/45 ************ ************************** * *** *** ** ************** ************ ************** 5/7 FIGURES REVEAL COURTS TOUGHER ON CRIME More criminals are being sent to jail for longer stretches, according to official figures.
A Government report showed that the proportion of criminals charged with serious crimes who went to jail last year was the highest in 40 years.
The average jail term for 1997 - 22.5 months - also marked a 40-year high.
Overall, 93,100 offenders were sent to prison by the courts - up by 10% on figures for 1996.
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