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| Robbery jail sentences 'falling' | |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The proportion of offenders jailed for robbery, sex offences and burglary in England and Wales fell last year to its lowest level for at least 10 years. | The proportion of offenders jailed for robbery, sex offences and burglary in England and Wales fell last year to its lowest level for at least 10 years. |
| The Ministry of Justice figures also showed nearly 2,000 people received cautions for sexual offences, including 34 for rape or attempted rape in 2007. | |
| The total number of offenders given cautions rose by 4% to 362,900 between 2006 and 2007. | |
| The overall proportion of people jailed for all offences remained at 6.8%. | |
| The figures show in 2007, 55.5% of people convicted of sexual offences were jailed, along with 39.2% for burglary, and 53.8% for robbery. | |
| In 1997, the figures were 56.3%, 45.3% and 71.6% respectively. | In 1997, the figures were 56.3%, 45.3% and 71.6% respectively. |
| Lesser offences | |
| Nearly 300 cautions were given to people who admitted having sex with under 16s, the 2007 Criminal Statistics bulletin revealed. | |
| Cautions were also handed out to six people who admitted breaking child prostitution or child pornography laws. | |
| They can only be given out if the offender admits they committed the crime and are usually given for lesser offences. | |
| The Ministry of Justice figures also show a record number of offenders were cautioned, given penalty fines or warning about cannabis possession in England and Wales in 2007. | The Ministry of Justice figures also show a record number of offenders were cautioned, given penalty fines or warning about cannabis possession in England and Wales in 2007. |
| The overall number of recorded detections - the number of crimes cleared up by police - dropped by 7%. | The overall number of recorded detections - the number of crimes cleared up by police - dropped by 7%. |
| This is attributed by officials to changes in the way the figures are compiled. | This is attributed by officials to changes in the way the figures are compiled. |
| A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "Although there is a high percentage increase of rape cautions, the number of cases actually remains very small (32 in 2007 and 20 in 2006). | |
| "Only in exceptional circumstances will the police and CPS decide that it is in the best interests of the victim not to prosecute." |