Councils in the north-east of England were this week revealed as criminal re-offending ‘hotspots', after ministers published figures showing that nine of the nation's top 10-highest rates were found within the region.

Figures published by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) this week show that Darlington Council and Hartlepool Council were home to the highest rates of re-offending between 2010 and 2011. More than 17% of all offenders aged above 18 and under probation supervision were caught re-offending.