§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his plans for diverting as many young people as possible from the criminal justice system.
§ Mr. MellorWe intend shortly to issue to chief officers of police new guidelines on cautioning which will encourage the more consistent and effective use of the caution. The guidelines will embody the principle that in the case of juvenile offenders there should be a presumption in favour of courses of action which fall short of prosecution, unless the individual circumstances of the case, in particular the seriousness of the offence, dictate otherwise.