Community resolutions used in 10,000 serious violence cases
Critics blame police cuts for sharp rise in number of people dodging court for violent crimes
POLICE resolved more than 10,000 cases of serious violent crime last year using 'community resolutions', an informal system that requires perpetrators to apologise or compensate their victims rather than face a criminal charge.
Community resolutions are only supposed to be used in relation to "low-level" crime, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said. The system – also known as restorative justice – usually requires an offender to apologise, pay compensation or repair any damage caused. Unlike a prosecution or a caution, this does not result in a criminal record.
But data obtained by the Labour Party from 33 police forces in England and Wales show that a community resolution was applied in 10,160 incidents of "serious violence" last year - about 12 times the figure five years ago, the BBC reports. It means that 14 per cent of violent offences are being dealt with informally rather than going through the courts.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The sharp increase can be attributed to the fact that police are increasingly being encouraged to use informal sanctions in relation to minor incidents as a way of "reducing the burden on the criminal justice system", the BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper went further, describing the sharp rise in community resolutions as "extremely serious" and blaming it on government cuts. Cooper said there had been "a massive increase in the number of serious and violent crimes dealt with just by community resolution ever since the police cuts started - breaking all the expert guidance and promises from ministers".
Guidelines published by Acpo say that community resolutions should be used for "less serious" offences which may include "minor assaults without injury". But the BBC says they are being applied to acts of serious violence which include crimes such as inflicting GBH without intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and malicious wounding.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 3, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
The ongoing nightmare of Chloe Ayling's abduction
In depth The model hopes the BBC's new drama detailing her 2017 kidnapping will finally bring an end to her traumatic ordeal
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Huw Edwards pleads guilty to making indecent images of children
Speed Read 'Chaos' outside Westminster Magistrates' Court before former BBC presenter's hearing
By The Week Staff Published
-
Russell Brand: trial by media?
Comedian denies accusations of sexual assault and rape in joint media investigation
By The Week Staff Published
-
What we know about the Copenhagen mall shooting
Speed Read Lone gunman had mental health issues and not thought to have terror motive, police say
By The Week Staff Published
-
Texas school shooting: parents turn anger on police
Speed Read Officers had to be urged to enter building where gunman killed 21 people
By The Week Staff Published
-
DJ Tim Westwood denies multiple sexual misconduct allegations
Speed Read At least seven women accuse the radio and TV presenter of predatory behaviour dating back three decades
By The Week Staff Published
-
What happened to Katie Kenyon?
Speed Read Man charged as police search for missing 33-year-old last seen getting into van
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Brooklyn subway shooting: exploring New York’s ‘steep decline in law and order’
Speed Read Last week, a gunman set off smoke bombs and opened fire on a rush-hour train in the city
By The Week Staff Last updated