Birmingham Law Society calls for an end to excessive cautioning
Friday, 16th October 2009
Birmingham Law Society calls for an end to excessive cautioning
Birmingham Law Society has expressed concern at the volume of suspects being cautioned by West Midlands Police.
New figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that of the 5,092 suspects arrested for drug offences in the West Midlands between September 2008 and August 2009, more than 36 per cent of those who were dealt with got off with a caution.
The figures for violent crime show that of the 30,434 suspects arrested and dealt with, more than 20 per cent were cautioned, with a similar figure of 24 per cent for the 5,399 arrested and dealt with for criminal damage.
When it came to theft and handling stolen goods more than 16 per cent of 14,140 suspects were cautioned and for burglary five per cent of the 3,223 suspects received a caution.
Bernard Shepherd, president of Birmingham Law Society, said the figures represented a worrying trend.
“The guilty may not be getting away with murder but they do seem to be getting away with far too much,” he said.
“There is no transparency in cautioning. It means that suspects who have admitted serious crimes are not being brought before a public tribunal and are not being punished.”
Birmingham Law Society has called for a review of the way suspects are dealt with and the use of cautions.
“The current system is allowing suspects to avoid court and ultimately, to avoid any real punishment,” said Mr Shepherd.
“We think it’s important that this is addressed so that justice can be seen to be done publicly.”
