A tale of cautions

Wednesday, 06 January 2010

How Enfield’s officers have given cautions to more than 400 people for violent attacks, 21 burglars, 14 muggers, and 1 rape suspect

By Nick Tarver

CRIMINALS who have admitted violent crimes and sexual assaults in Enfield are being let off with cautions in an attempt to ease pressure on the court system.

Figures obtained by the Advertiser under the Freedom of Information Act show police issued a total of 467 cautions in a single year for crimes ranging from sexual assaults to burglary, rather than prosecuting the criminals.

The number of cautions has been criticised by a senior councillor who says they should not be issued for serious offences – a view shared by the Met commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson.

In Enfield, between November 2008 and October 2009, 21 cautions were issued for
burglary offences, 14 for robbery, 226 for ABH, ten for GBH, 193 for common assault, three for sexual assault and even one for rape.

The issue hit the headlines in November when Mr Stephenson said there had been an “almost uncontrollable increase in cautions” handed out by police in an attempt to relieve pressure on the overstretched court system.

But Detective Chief Inspector Paul Healy, from Enfield CID, said the borough’s police would only issue a caution after considering a number of factors. “This will include the nature of the offence, its impact and wishes of the victim and the character of the suspect,” he said.

“Public interest consideration is also taken into account. A caution will be considered where the suspect has made a full admission but the victim does not wish to attend court, thus alleviating the stress caused to the victim if the suspect was charged and they had to give evidence in court.”

A caution is a formal warning whereby the perpetrator admits the offence. It is not counted as a criminal conviction, despite the offender admitting to the crime.

Enfield cabinet member for community safety, Matthew Laban, said he plans to raise the matter with Enfield Police.

“I’m very concerned that appropriate action is taken and is seen to be taken and will be speaking to the local police to get a better understanding of these figures,” he said.

“Cautions should not be used for serious offences, especially when they involve violence.”

Mr Laban said the increased use of cautions was not an Enfield-only issue and stems from a lack of prison space. He said: “This is a national problem and part of a wider police culture fostered by the government’s unwillingness to build more prisons. The good news is that London has a new police commissioner who has spoken out against the use of cautions relating to serious offences, which is a line we fully endorse.”

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1 comments on this news item

Posted by : The Police are Parasites, Enfield | Thursday 07/Jan/2010 | Report this comment

They are only interested in easy targets like the motorist and the political correct agenda. DC Fortune from from Barnet CID wastes tax payers money arresting and charging a 12 year old boy for calling another boy so called racist name. That an easy target for a money wasting Parasites like these type of so called Police officers.

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