§ Baroness Faithfullasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they have taken to bring about greater consistency in police cautioning practices.
§ Lord EltonIn June 1984 my right honourable friend the Home Secretary published a consultative document,Cautioning by the Police. This document contained a report of a working group of chief officers of police and Home Office officials; a draft circular and 563WA guidelines to chief officers on the cautioning of both juveniles and adults; and a summary of research conducted into police force cautioning policy and practice.
The consultative document was given wide circulation, and comments on it were received from agencies and individuals working in the criminal justice field. The draft circular and guidelines have been revised in the light of comments received. The revised circular and guidelines were issued to chief officers of police yesterday. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
We are grateful to chief officers of police for their co-operation in taking this work forward and to all the organisations and individuals who offered their observations on the consultative document. We look to the new guidelines to help bring about more consistent and effective cautioning practices and my right honourable friend has asked HM Inspectors of Constabulary to pay particular attention to this in their inspection of forces.