SUSPECTS released on bail went on to commit 24,378 further crimes in a year, a Sun on Sunday investigation has found.

They included murders, rapes and child sex offences.

The shock figures mean more than 66 people a day fall victim to a “bail bandit” who could instead have been behind bars.

Ministry of Justice officials finally released statistics for 2016 — the latest year available — more than a year after a Freedom of Information request.

They show there were 26 killings, 98 rapes, 202 sex offences against children and 2,722 burglaries carried out by people granted bail.

The child sex offence figure was 58 per cent up on the previous year.

David Spencer, Director of Research at the Centre for Crime Prevention, said: “These figures illustrate all too clearly bail in the UK is not working.

“People will be horrified that murderers, rapists, and child sex offenders are being released on bail to offend again.

“For the public to be put at risk by excessive use of bail show guidelines are badly in need of toughening up.”

A spokesman for the Justice Ministry’s Judicial Office said: “Whether or not to grant bail is a decision of the courts.”