Sadiq Kahn: Riots re-offenders no surprise
The "considerable number" of rioters who had previous convictions is "not surprising", shadow justice minister Sadiq Kahn has said.
Mr Kahn told BBC news that the prison service was "over-stretched" and not enough was being done to rehabilitate criminals.
One in four people charged over the riots in English cities last month had committed more than 10 previous offences, and three-quarters had a previous caution or conviction, Ministry of Justice figures show.
15 Sep 2011