Sadiq Khan MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary, commenting on the Ministry of Justice’s publication of guidance on the use of cautions, said:

“This is a small but welcome step forward by a Government that has ignored the growth in cautions for serious and violent offences. But in the three years it has taken the Government to wake up to this problem, too many innocent victims of crime have been insulted by the slaps on the wrist given to criminals. Thirty times last year cautions were given to rapists, and 14% of all violent crimes against the person saw the perpetrators get no criminal record, no proper justice and not even a caution. This has cheapened our justice system.

“First, ministers denied there was even a problem. Then they insulted innocent victims, blaming the rise in cautions on their unwillingness to press charges. Now we have yet another review being launched, which will do little to tackle the mushrooming in other types of cheap justice until next year at the earliest. With so many reviews being launched, the Justice Secretary is showing himself to be a repeat offender. He needs to put a stop to justice on the cheap for serious, violent and repeat crimes.”