Cautions review gets cautious welcome

A review of the cautions system must take into account the individual circumstances of attacks on licensees, according to National Pubwatch.

Steve Baker, chairman of National Pubwatch, which is behind the Court Not Caution campaign, was speaking following an announcement by Justice Secretary Jack Straw that there would be a review of the out-of-court penalty system.

Court Not Caution calls for attacks on licensees to be treated more seriously with perpetrators going to court.

Baker said: "The director of public prosecutions Keir Starmer has said that anything above common assault should go to court.

"That is a problem because it could mean that with common assaults the circumstances are not looked at and it could just be dealt with by a caution.

"Every case is unique and the circumstances need to be looked at before making that decision."

However, he added he was pleased the caution system - which last year dealt with around 40,000 assault cases - was being reviewed.

"It is encouraging but I have written to both Jack Straw and Keir Starmer to put our position forward," he added.

Straw announced details of the review, which will be conducted by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, following comments by Starmer calling for a review and a Panorama documentary on the issue.

A Justice Department spokesman said: "The Justice Secretary and the Home Secretary have been focussing closely on this issue, considering options to examine the use of penalty notices for disorder and cautions in light of representations expressing concern about their operation.

"As a result they plan to initiate a review of the use of these 'out of court' disposals, involving the inspectorates' of constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service."

So far 93 MPs have signed an early day motion​ tabled by Nigel Evans MP in support of Court Not Caution and nearly 800 people have signed an online petition​.