THE number of criminals being brought to justice in West Yorkshire has gone up massively in the last three years.

Latest figures from West Yorkshire Criminal Justice Board reveal an increase in the number of convictions of more than 51% between March 2002 and June this year. The board has also improved its performance in bringing young criminals to justice quickly.

It has beaten its persistent young offenders pledge time between arrest and sentencing by four days with a 67-day average. It has also met its targets for quicker execution of warrants.

Neil Franklin, chief crown prosecutor and chairman of West Yorkshire Criminal Justice Board said: "The progress we have made has come about through the commitment and determination of those who work in the criminal justice agencies.

"When dealing with persistent young offenders (PYOs), for example, it is very important that young people are able to see the direct correlation between their actions and the consequences of those actions. Therefore justice needs to be quick and effective."

A new electronic warrant management system allows for warrants to be held by the courts and notification of their issue to be electronically forwarded to the relevant police division.

Mr Franklin said: "This means warrants can be followed up more quickly, leading to a reduction in the number that are currently outstanding.

* A persistent young offender is defined as a young person aged 10 to 17 years, sentenced on three or more occasions for recordable offences and who within three years of the last sentence is arrested again or has information laid against them for a further offence.