THE number of young offenders in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has fallen by a third over the last five years.

Official figures show the number of young people passing through the youth court fell from 1,726 in 2005-6 to 1,108 in 2010-11.

However the rate of reoffending has risen.

Bosses at Wessex Youth Offending Team (YOT) say the decline is partly because more low-risk offenders are being dealt with outside the courts.

Under a new “triage” system being rolled out across Hampshire, police can deal informally with youngsters committing minor offences, for example give them final warnings.

Wessex YOT says this helps prevent first-time offenders entering the youth justice system.

There has also been a 53 per cent reduction in the number of young people being held in custody over the last two years, falling from 148 in 2009-10 to 111 in 2010-11.

Young offenders given community sentences increased by three per cent over the same period.

Wessex YOT is jointly funded by the county council, Portsmouth and Southampton city councils, Hampshire Constabulary and the probation service.

Earlier this year it had its budget cut by £2m and shed 30 full-time jobs.