'We need to end the depressing merry-go round of re-offending': Number of career criminals with at least 15 convictions goes up by 30,000 in the past decade Official figures show there are 100,000 'hard-core persistent offenders' in UK In 2003 there were 70,000 people with 15 or more convictions - 30,000 less Despite being more likely to be jailed, only 38% ended up in prison Challenge: Justice Secretary Chris Grayling admitted today the 'depressing merry-go round of reoffending' must stop Ministers have today called for an end to the 'depressing merry-go round of reoffending' after new figures revealed that the number of career criminals has surged in ten years. Over the last decade, the number of prolific offenders has risen by more than 30,000, according to the latest Criminal Justice Statistics for England and Wales. The Ministry of Justice admitted that persistent offending is a 'challenge' to the criminal justice system. These serial offenders now account for more than a third of all convicted criminals, the data show. The number of criminals with 15 or more previous convictions or cautions who are sentenced for the more serious offences rose from 70,000 in the 12 months ending June 2003 to more than 100,000 in the year ending June 2013. Three fifths of repeat offenders who had at least 15 sanctions on their record were convicted for theft, the Ministry of Justice said. But serial offenders were more likely to be sent to prison for their crimes - in the latest year 38 per cent of criminals with 15 or more previous sanctions received a custodial sentence compared to 12 per cent with no previous history of offending. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: 'There is still a hard core of persistent offenders who commit crime after crime, racking up a string of convictions and cautions. We have got to stop this depressing merry-go round of reoffending, and these figures show yet again why our reforms are so crucial. We are making radical changes to the way we rehabilitate offenders, so that all prisoners get at least 12 months supervision after release, and we are clamping down on cautions for serious criminals and repeat offenders. Sentences: Serial offenders were more likely to be sent to prison for their crimes - but almost two out of three still avoided jail The figures also show that while the overall number of crimes has fallen in the last year, the number of sexual offences recorded by police has risen by more than 4,000. The number of sex crimes increased from 52,189 in the year ending June 2012 to 56,842 in the year ending June 2013. Of the latest sex crimes, 1,661 of the alleged perpetrators were given a caution. Police recorded crime peaked in 2003/04, and recorded offences are now lower than at any time over the past decade, the figures show. Over the same time frame, the average prison term handed out by judges has increased by more than two months to 14.8 months. Mr Grayling added: 'Crime is falling, and under this Government those who break the law are more likely to go to prison for longer. That is good news for both the victims of crime and the public at large.