Number of ex-offenders charged with the serious offence crimes while on probation rose by a third to hit a grim new record, latest figures show.

Amid concerns about how probation service will cope the government’s anticipated release of thousands of prisonersnew data showed probation units identified 770 occasions last year when released offenders appeared in court charged with another serious offence.

This figure – which includes crimes such as crimerape, serious violence and arson, alleged to have been committed while on probation or within 28 days of leaving service supervision – is up 33% in the year to March 31 this year, compared to 579 the previous year, according to Ministry of Justice.

It is the highest number on record and coincides with the Conservatives’ first five months. emergency move to release the prisoners early.

Advocates for the victims said The Independent the rise was “very concerning” as the Chief Probation Inspector warned that the high caseload and pressure on overburdened probation service they were undermining his capacity to maintain public safety.

Probation Officers they bore the brunt of emergency measures to ease the prison crisis, with more than 13,000 inmates released up to 70 days early under Tory schemes since last October and at least another 3,000 given 40% of their sentences under work in recent months.

With the unions describing the early release scheme as causing “absolute chaos”inspectors have warned that prisoners are being released from prison without sufficient planning to ensure the protection of the public or to avoid their release into the homeless – increasing the risk of relapse.

In November, Zara’s aunt Aleena – a young lawyer killed in 2022 by a man wrongly classified as ‘medium risk’ after being released from prison – said he was afraid of the probation crisis I could see other families suffering fatal errors.

In another recent high-profile case, a mother and three children were killed in Killamarsh by a man whose risk was incorrectly assessed.

Analysis of the latest data shows that 603 people have been convicted of murder while on probation since 2014 – the equivalent of more than one murder conviction every week.

Against this background, the new figures also showed a 33% rise in charges for other serious offenses brought against violent and sex offenders who are the subject of Multi-agency Public Protection Arrangements (Mappa), where they are monitored so closely probation as well as the police due to the nature of their past crimes.

A total of 216 offenders subject to Mappa monitoring after being released from prison were charged with another serious offense in 2023/24, more than in any year since 2018.

There were also 132 convictions for serious new offenses committed by ex-offenders in Mappa arrangements, up 15% on the previous year, according to Ministry of Justice figures. Some of these will relate to allegations made in previous years.

Describing the rise as “very worrying”, Victims Commissioner Baroness Newlove said The Independent“When offenders are released into the community, the safety of victims and the public is paramount.”

Ms Newlove added: “If the victims they must trust the justice systemthey need to trust that offenders are being managed effectively in the community and will undoubtedly be recalled into custody if their behavior gives cause for concern.

“I recognize that the probation service has a difficult job in managing high-risk offenders – they need to have the resources to do this effectively, including manageable caseloads for offender managers. I welcome the government’s commitment to recruit more probation staff. This has to be a priority.”

Chief Inspector Martin Jones said The Independent: “The probation service has a large and often complex task. Given this size and complexity it is extremely difficult to predict when a new Serious Offending (SFO) will occur, however it is always worrying to see an increase in the number of SFO charges and convictions.

“Good probation practices help keep communities safe. Our recent inspections have found shortcomings in the public protection work of the probation service due to the high caseloads and pressures they face.

“It is vital that the service continues to prioritize risk assessment and management to minimize the likelihood of SFO occurring.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “Other serious offenses are incredibly rare, with less than 0.5% of offenders on probation being convicted of one.

“We recognize the devastating impact these crimes have on victims and are taking urgent action to improve supervision of offenders, including recruiting 1,000 new trainee probation officers by March 2025.”