More drivers than burglars sent to jail

Courts are jailing more drivers than burglars. An Evening Standard investigation has revealed that 5,000 more motorists than burglars were sent to prison in one year.

The official statistics, obtained by the Standard for the first time, come days after Martin Narey, the Government's prisons and probation chief, warned that jails are dealing with too many drivers and are "overrun" with inmates on short sentences.

Watchdogs today claimed motorists are being dealt with too harshly by the courts and that alternatives to custody are needed. The figures show that 15,059 drivers were given custodial sentences in 2002 - while 10,184 burglars were sent to prison. Magistrates and judges jailed 2,819 young offenders and 12,240 adults for driving offences of all types. They also jailed 2,685 young offenders and 7,499 adults for burglary.

The figures show that of the 15,059 drivers jailed, 2,200 were for the most serious offences, including causing death by dangerous driving, dangerous driving, and drink-driving that had resulted in injury.

The statistics mean that almost 3,000 more drivers convicted of minor motoring offences were jailed than burglars. They were sentenced for offences such as careless driving, driving without insurance or defaulting on a fine.