MOSCOW, November 1 (RIA Novosti) — The UK government is planning to toughen police measures with regard to offenders responsible for minor crimes, BBC reported on Saturday.
“It isn't right that criminals who commit lower-level crime can be dealt with by little more than a warning,” said Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, cited by BBC. “Under the new system we are introducing, offenders will face prosecution if they fail to comply with the conditions set by the police, so that no one is allowed to get away with the soft option," he added.
The new approach implies that lawbreakers will not be able to come out clean with simple cautions and censure resolutions, which are frequently wrongly given to those responsible for major crimes.
“[…] too many criminals have been getting away with serious crimes,” said Sadiq Khan, the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice. “[…] cautions have been dished out wrongly for serious sexual and violent crimes like rape.”
The system of the so-called “out-of-court disposals”, which allows the police to take quick action on minor law violations, such as conditional cautions and punitive penalties, will be replaced by a new system. Those who commit a low-level crime for the first time will get a statutory community resolution, forcing offenders to carry out one or more required steps, such as verbal or written apology to the victim, recompense for injuries, or compensation for caused damage, Daily Mail reports. Lawbreakers responsible for more serious violations will have to fulfil conditions laid down by the police, or face a court trial if having failed to comply with them.
According to UK officials, the new measures will help police officers deal with offenders in an appropriate way and protect victims from further possible abuses.
