Express & Star

End for slap on the wrist cautions

Slap on the wrist cautions are being scrapped under a new scheme to give the police the power to deal with low level crimes out of court.

Published
Graffiti on a canal bridge on Ounsdale Road, Wombourne.

Staffordshire Police is one of three forces to test out the new system for the next year. Justice minister Mike Penning told the Express & Star the move to 'suspended prosecution' would end the 'slap on the wrist' stigma attached to simple cautions.

Police will be able to work with victims to give them a say in how first time offenders should be dealt with, if they own up to their crimes.

Mike Penning

It means for some thefts, assaults or criminal damage, some form of community service or treatment programme could be drawn up instead.

If the offender sticks to it, they will not have to go before the courts.

But those who do not learn the error of their ways will get dragged before magistrates in the same way as someone handed a suspended prison sentence can end up with a harsher penalty for a repeat offence.

On a visit to Staffordshire Police's headquarters Mr Penning said: "We are re-empowering police officers to use their common sense and make the right decisions for their communities.

"Far from being a simple caution, this is a suspended prosecution.

"This will not just be a slap on the wrist. These changes are dramatic.

"It will not just be enough for an offender to say sorry.

"There is real evidence that sending someone on a drug awareness course or a drink awareness course works to cut re-offending.

"We're testing them in Staffordshire and two other areas for a year to see if there are any problems that we need to iron out."

Mr Penning said the system would not add to the paperwork of police officers.

"If anything it will free them up," he said. "They'll make the decision of what to do. Then it will become part of the existing bureaucratic infrastructure back at headquarters.

"If the offender doesn't adhere to what is agreed, they end up in the justice system."

The system is being tested in the Staffordshire, Leicestershire and West Yorkshire police force areas, which all volunteered and were chosen based on having rural, urban and mixed populations.

Community resolutions will mean victims get a chance to say how they want the offender dealt with. They could get an apology or have any damages fixed or even compensation.

Suspended prosecutions will let the police attach one or more conditions which must be reparative, rehabilitative or punitive in nature. It could include making the offender attend a course. Those who fail to comply then end up in court.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.