§ Mr. John MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the current guidelines on cautioning, with particular reference to the categories of offences and persons who receive cautions.
§ Mr. MacleanThe current guidance to the police on the use of cautioning is set out in Home Office Circular 59/1990, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. I am about to consult interested parties on the content of some supplementary guidance which I have decided that it is now necessary to issue.
§ Mr. John MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest available figures on cautioning; and what the figures were(a) 12 months ago and (b) two years ago.
§ Mr. MacleanInformation for the years 1990 to 1992, which is provisional, is given in the table. 1993 data will not he available until autumn 1994.
Number of offenders cautioned and as a percentage of offenders found guilty or cautioned 1990 to 921 England and Wales Offence/Year Cautioned Cautioning rate Indictable offences2 1990 166,300 33 1991 179,900 35 19921 216,200 41 Summary offences (excluding motoring offences) 1990 102,800 18 1991 98,900 18 19921 105,100 18 Total (excluding summary motoring offences) 1990 269,100 25 1991 278,800 26 19921 321,300 29 1 Provisional. 2 Includes triable either way.