THE number of yobs repeatedly committing crimes has soared by 60% since 1997, figures revealed today.

Ministry of Justice figures revealed the number of Persistent Young Offenders (PYOs) in England and Wales increased from 9,868 in 1997 to 15,819 last year.

The number of offences they commit each year has risen by more than 80% - to nearly 80 every day.

Shadow Police Minister David Ruffley said: "Police officers are concerned that a huge amount of their time is spent dealing with the same repeat young offenders that the criminal justice system fails to keep off the streets or rehabilitate.

"I agree with the police that this revolving door of criminality is unacceptable." Police Federation chairman Paul McKeever said Labour had "failed abysmally" on crime.

He said: "The feeling within the police is that we take an awful lot of stick and are blamed for the general failure of the criminal justice system."