Avon and Somerset Police is continuing its commitment to keep the public informed as part of the Policing Pledge by releasing key details of offenders brought to justice across the force area.

To keep the public informed of offenders convicted in their area, the force has developed a new section of its website, which will be regularly updated to include the results of court convictions in Avon and Somerset.

Data shows that Avon and Somerset Police has increased the rates of offenders brought to justice over the last couple of years, despite a drop in crime in the region. For the 12 month period leading into April 2006 the total number of offenders brought to justice was 17,085. This compares with more than double that rate for the same 12 month period leading into April 2008, when 41,503 offenders were brought to justice.

This improvement is attributed to several factors including in particular more efficient partnership working across the criminal justice system but its also thought it is partly due to the increased availability of instant disposals, such as fixed penalty notices and cautions which allow officers to deal with offenders in a quick and efficient manner.

The force will now keep the public informed regularly of details of offenders across the force area who have been convicted of criminal activity.

Supt Matt Ayres, from Avon and Somerset Police's Criminal Justice Department, who has led the role out of this project, said: "We've continued relentlessly to pursue offenders in Avon and Somerset and are committed to showing that if you commit a crime in this area you will be brought to justice.

"The aim of this new project is to show the public the work we are doing to tackle offenders in their neighbourhood."