THE public are being put at risk because suspects released under investigation are going on to commit thousands of new offences, experts said last night.

Crooks are making a mockery of new bail laws which see them put back on the streets with no restrictions.

One in seven are said to be breaking the law again.

It comes as new figures show that criminals jailed for six months or less have committed an average of 50 offences.

Ministers have limited police bail to 28 days after some suspects were kept in limbo for months or even years.

But now bail is used in just four per cent of cases, meaning police cannot restrict their movements or monitor them.

Greg Powell, a former head of the London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association, told the Daily Mail: “Released under investigation has been a disaster. It has reinforced the idea for offenders that there are no consequences for your actions and police are also putting the public at risk if they just carry on offending.”

Figures obtained through freedom of information requests show the re-arrest rate across nine police forces was 15 per cent. Conservative MP Philip Davies, who obtained the figures, said they show the “complete idiocy” of the plans.