Bristol child abusers let off with caution
Almost one in four people subject to police action over child abuse in Avon and Somerset are let off with a caution, figures have revealed.
Out of 326 cases involving sexual and physical abuse against children in the year to April, 249 people were charged and 77 people were cautioned.
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A caution means the culprit does not have to go to court but warns them that their behaviour is unacceptable and if they were to re-offend it would likely result in court action.
Police can also issue a conditional caution that could require the offender to take part in a rehabilitation course.
Lib Dem spokesman Chris Huhne said the figures were "staggering".
He said: "It is unacceptable for anyone who rapes a child to be given a slap on the wrist."
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "A caution can be administered to an offender for a range of criminal offences, including sexual offences.
"Each individual case is judged on its merits and we adhere to the home office guidelines when doing so. It is recorded against the offender."
Avon and Somerset police and Gloucestershire police handed out the highest percentage of cautions for child abuse offences in the South West region.
Nationally, both forces were in the top 20 for handing out the highest percentage of cautions for the offences.
In England and Wales, 8,043 people who committed sexual and physical abuse offences against children were charged in the year to April, while more than 3,000 got a caution.
The police force that handed out the highest percentage of cautions for child abuse offences in England and Wales was Dyfed-Powys Police, which issued almost as many cautions as it did charges last year, according to the figures that were released under the Freedom of Information Act.
Detective Inspector Mark Little, of Gloucestershire police, said: "The decision on whether to charge a suspect or to give a formal caution is always taken in conjunction with the Crown Prosecution Service, and the particular circumstances of each case are reviewed by a CPS lawyer in detail.
"Consideration is given to the wishes of the victim and their family in each case to establish what is in the best interests of the child."
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by Steve, Bristol
Monday, September 28 2009, 2:15PM
“Before everybody feverishly jumps to conclusions, remember that a large proportion of these alleged offences are down to such things as a mum slapping her child in public - any form of physical assualt on a child is included in these figures..
Yes, not nice, not pretty but not really 'child abuse' in the way that most of us understand it.
So, for people like Chris Huhne to jump on the bandwagon and suggest that those guilty of child rape are getting away with a slap on thewrist is patently absurd.”
by Tom, Local
Monday, September 28 2009, 1:58PM
“Prisons are full. What else can they do?”
by Sharon, Bristol
Monday, September 28 2009, 12:00PM
“A CAUTION?? Again the justice system in this country has the rest of the world in stitches laughing at us!!”
by James, South West
Monday, September 28 2009, 10:43AM
“Whether the decisions to caution are right or wrong, and there will never be universal agreement, it has to be remembered that the CPS is now the final arbiter in deciding whether a person is prosecuted, cautioned or not proceeded against, not the police.
It would be refreshing if the CPS put up spokespeople in these circumstances instead of leaving it to the police to take the flack of those who think the decisions are wrong.
The CPS is not slow in grabbing the limelight when high profile prosecutions result in conviction. There is invariably a CPS spokesperson facing the battery of media reporters on such occasions.”
by James, South West
Monday, September 28 2009, 10:43AM
“Whether the decisions to caution are right or wrong, and there will never be universal agreement, it has to be remembered that the CPS is now the final arbiter in deciding whether a person is prosecuted, cautioned or not proceeded against, not the police.
It would be refreshing if the CPS put up spokespeople in these circumstances instead of leaving it to the police to take the flack of those who think the decisions are wrong.
The CPS is not slow in grabbing the limelight when high profile prosecutions result in conviction. There is invariably a CPS spokesperson facing the battery of media reporters on such occasions.”