Ministers have welcomed news of further progress in their bid to reduce the time from arrest to sentence for young offenders.

Figures released on Friday revealed that 38 of the 42 criminal justice areas in England and Wales have met the government's 71-day target.

For the third consecutive year the timetable was achieved with the average time in the second quarter of this year down to 63 days.

Magistrates' courts saw the average time drop two days from the previous quarter to 56 days between April and June.

The government has been keen to reduce the gap between an offender being arrested and beginning their punishment.

It was felt youths were able to continue causing trouble in their communities before sentences began.

Home Office minister Paul Goggins said the focus on administering justice more quickly was now paying dividends on the ground.

"This is a great achievement and a model of criminal justice agencies working together to bring offenders to justice," he said.

"I am encouraged by the high number of criminal justice areas that have now met or exceeded the target of 71 days."