Police Cautions

[wfp76]

How many police cautions can you get

[EDDIE51]

No limit as far as I know.

[New Judge]

As many as the police decide to give you. And therein lies their fault.

Cautions were originally introduced to give first time offenders who have admitted their guilt to a trivial offence the chance to avoid prosecution and conviction by accepting a caution. It was really intended for people who may have been subject to a Conditional Discharge or perhaps a small fine if the matter went to court. Such has their abuse developed that they are now offered to serial offenders and those committing serious offences.

The government has introduced new guidelines which should see a cut in the number of cautions issued and a trial is currently in place:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29859758

But the fact is this well-meaning idea has been blatantly abused by the police to save them the trouble of pursuing a prosecution and it needs to be more rigorously controlled.

[Peter Pedant]

It seems a bit like bail
one of my neighbours kept on violating his bail conditions
so he as arrested...
and re-bailed

and when the police came around for you know the tenth time I politely suggested they find something else to do which was more productive inn the terms of value for money from my taxes

they were terribly upset.

[EDDIE51]

Or like Greek bail outs 'no limit' !

[Peter Pedant]

very similar eddie
if not identical

hmm - thinks I wish I thought of that !