Criminals who oversleep 'let off'

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The National Audit Office (NAO) disclosed that probation officers allow offenders to give "unacceptable" excuses, such as forgetting to attend, having no transport, or being ill without a doctor's note.

The findings will be a blow to ministers and penal reform campaigners who argue that community orders - which involve unpaid work and other requirements - are a tough alternative to prison.

Guidelines state that probation officers should send offenders back to court if they fail to attend twice in a year.

But the NAO report said: "Occasionally offender managers may accept 'unacceptable' reasons when more rigorous enforcement would be more appropriate."

In 9% of the cases examined, the criminal said they had forgotten, were "confused" or had slept in.

In London, this category accounted for 19% of excuses which were accepted by officers.

The report also revealed that the National Probation Service did not know how much community orders cost the taxpayer, or many orders it has the potential capacity to deliver.

Chairman of the Commons' all-party Public Accounts Committee, Edward Leigh, said: "Too often, offenders who have been given a community order are escaping elements of their punishment and rehabilitation.

The law-abiding taxpayers of this country deserve better."