Conditional cautions rolled out across London

Conditional cautioning is now live in all London boroughs following a roll-out that began in December 2006.

Implementation of this new means of dealing with less serious criminal offences was completed with its adoption in Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets in East London in February 2008.

Under the scheme offenders have to be adults who have admitted their guilt in interview.

If they fail to comply with the conditions, they face the possibility of going to court for the original offence.

To date, around 400 cautions with conditions attached have been handed out to defendants across London. The bulk of the cases have involved criminal damage and alcohol or drug-related offences.

The most common conditions have been compensation, letters of apology to victims and referrals to drugs and alcohol programmes.

Conditions are set by the CPS for cases recommended by the police, and can be of either a rehabilitative or reparative nature.

The scope of use was illustrated by an assault case arising from a neighbours' dispute in Acton, West London.

The defendant, who headbutted his victim causing cuts, bruises and a chipped tooth, agreed to pay £350 compensation and to apologise to him.