More than 3,900 criminals in the West Midlands committed an offence while on bail last year.

Exclusive figures from the Ministry of Justice show that 3,943 offenders were convicted of an offence while on bail in the West Midlands Police force area in the year to June 2017.

This included 2,628 offenders who were convicted of offences serious enough to be tried at the crown court.

The number of offenders in West Midlands convicted of crimes while on bail has fallen from 4,202 in the year to June 2016, with 4,135 in in the year to June 2015, and 3,897 in the year to June 2014.

Across the West Midlands region, 223 offenders convicted of an offence while on bail had committed a burglary and 29 offenders were found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm while on bail in the year to June 2017.

The figures also suggest a small number of offenders were found guilty of murder and manslaughter committed while they were on bail.

In the year ending June 2017, 9 rapes were committed by offenders who were on bail, while 43 were found guilty of sex offences against children, with 53 found guilty of other sex offences.

Across England and Wales, the figures show that 37,773 offenders were convicted of an offence while on bail in England and Wales in the year to June 2017.

This included 21,880 offenders who were convicted of offences serious enough to be tried at the crown court.

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The number of offenders in England and Wales convicted of crimes while on bail has fallen from 45,887 in the year to June 2016, 51,917 in in the year to June 2015, and 57,360 in the year to June 2014.

Across England and Wales, 1,551 offenders convicted of an offence while on bail had committed a burglary and 291 offenders were found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm while on bail in the year to June 2017, with at least six offenders found guilty of manslaughter while on bail.

The figures also suggest a small number of offenders were found guilty of murder committed while they were on bail.

In the year ending June 2017, 41 rapes were committed by offenders who were on bail, while at least 267 were found guilty of sex offences against children, with at least 276 found guilty of other sex offences.

The figures include all types of bail, including police bail (prior to first court appearance), and court bail (both magistrates and crown court).

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The figures come from a Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Justice. However, figures may be higher than reported, as the Ministry of Justice said that there is no mandatory requirement for information in relation to offences committed whilst an individual is on bail to be recorded on the Police National Computer, as police forces will use local systems to manage the defendant population on bail in their jurisdiction.

As a result, information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice regarding offences committed on bail is known to have inaccuracies and does not necessarily represent all the facts in each individual case.