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Cautions to be scrapped for serious offenders, says Chris Grayling Cautions to be scrapped for serious offenders, says Chris Grayling
(about 4 hours later)
Serious offenders will no longer receive a mere "slap on the wrist", the justice secretary has said, as he announced an overhaul of the cautions system.Serious offenders will no longer receive a mere "slap on the wrist", the justice secretary has said, as he announced an overhaul of the cautions system.
Chris Grayling said he was scrapping simple cautions, which do not involve any form of punishment, for serious crimes such as rape, manslaughter and robbery.Chris Grayling said he was scrapping simple cautions, which do not involve any form of punishment, for serious crimes such as rape, manslaughter and robbery.
Police will no longer use them for sexual offences against children such as child prostitution or pornography, possession of an offensive weapon or supplying class-A drugs, he said. Police will no longer use them for sexual offences against children such as child prostitution or pornography, possession of an offensive weapon or supplying a class-A drug, he said.
Speaking ahead of the Tory party conference in Manchester, Grayling said: "Last year, nearly 500 offenders who admitted committing some of the most serious crimes escaped with just a slap on the wrist.Speaking ahead of the Tory party conference in Manchester, Grayling said: "Last year, nearly 500 offenders who admitted committing some of the most serious crimes escaped with just a slap on the wrist.
"Quite simply this is unacceptable and unfair on victims. That is why I am scrapping simple cautions for all of the most serious offences and a range of other offences that devastate lives and tear apart communities.""Quite simply this is unacceptable and unfair on victims. That is why I am scrapping simple cautions for all of the most serious offences and a range of other offences that devastate lives and tear apart communities."
Last year, a total of 5,084 simple cautions were issued for the most serious crimes – those that would automatically be heard in a crown court if they went to trial. These included 962 for possession of knives, 1,543 for other weapons and 54 for supplying or offering to supply class A drugs. Last year, 5,084 simple cautions were issued for the most serious crimes – those that would automatically be heard in a crown court if they went to trial. These included 962 for possession of knives, 1,543 for other weapons and 54 for supplying or offering to supply class-A drugs.
They were also used to deal with a raft of offences related to children, including seven for child prostitution and pornography, 183 for taking, distributing or publishing indecent photographs of children, 268 for possession of indecent photographs of a child, and 1,560 for cruelty or neglect of children.They were also used to deal with a raft of offences related to children, including seven for child prostitution and pornography, 183 for taking, distributing or publishing indecent photographs of children, 268 for possession of indecent photographs of a child, and 1,560 for cruelty or neglect of children.
The new guidance for police forces comes as a review is launched into the use of all out-of-court disposals, such as penalty notices, that Tories hope will show "if you break the law, you will not escape the law".The new guidance for police forces comes as a review is launched into the use of all out-of-court disposals, such as penalty notices, that Tories hope will show "if you break the law, you will not escape the law".
The policing and criminal justice minister, Damian Green, said: "It's time we get tough -– that's why we are seriously clamping down on the use of simple cautions and reviewing all out-of-court disposals. We need to sort this out once and for all if the public and victims are going to have confidence in the criminal justice system. The policing and criminal justice minister, Damian Green, said: "It's time we get tough – that's why we are seriously clamping down on the use of simple cautions and reviewing all out-of-court disposals. We need to sort this out once and for all if the public and victims are going to have confidence in the criminal justice system.
"Simple cautions can be an appropriate way for the police to deal with low-level offending. However they are not suitable for criminals who commit serious offences like rape or robbery, which can ruin victims' lives.""Simple cautions can be an appropriate way for the police to deal with low-level offending. However they are not suitable for criminals who commit serious offences like rape or robbery, which can ruin victims' lives."
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