Out of Court Punishments
Out of court punishments, or Conditional Cautions as
they are better known, is a scheme whereby adult offenders willing
to admit their guilt can rehabilitate their actions.
The scheme is aimed at cases where the public interest would be
met more effectively by offenders carrying out specified conditions
(which are attached to a Caution) rather than being prosecuted.
The conditions must help rehabilitate the offender and/or ensure
that he or she makes reparation for the effects of the offence on
the victim or the wider community. Offenders who fail to comply
with the conditions will usually be prosecuted for the original
offence.
Conditional Cautions do not replace the non-statutory police
caution (now known as the 'Simple Caution'), which continues to be
used in appropriate circumstances.
For the first half of 2010, 92 conditional
cautions have been administered for a variety of
offences:
- 32 Criminal Damage
- 21 Thefts
- 13 Public Order Offences
- 10 Assaults
- 10 Possession of Drugs
- 05 Drunkenness
- 01 Wasting Police Time
Conditions imposed (more than one condition can be
administered to one offender):
- 53 Compensation (more than £9,500 has been
handed back to victims)
- 20 Letters of apology
- 19 Referrals to Drinksense
- 12 Referrals to Drug Intervention
Programme
Conditional Cautions served in Peterborough:
2011
January -
March 2011
April - June
2011
July -
September 2011
October -
December 2011
2010
January
- March 2010
April -
June 2010
July -
September 2010
October
- December 2010