Child sex offenders 'given caution'

Official figures showed more than 200 paedophiles who admitted having sexual activity with children aged under 13 were cautioned by police.

The most recent figures showed less than half of those who admitted or were convicted of such offences were jailed.

The Tories said the statistics showed "lax" sentencing standards.

But the Ministry of Justice said it was not always right to make children give evidence at trial, and offenders given cautions would still have to sign the sex offenders register.

Between 2004 and 2007 some 229 sex offenders were given cautions for sexual activity with a child under 13, a category of offence which includes child rape and child prostitution.

In 2007, less than half those who admitted or were convicted of such an offence were jailed. A third were cautioned and a fifth were given a community or suspended sentence.

Shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve said: "Ministers regularly make loud announcements about cracking down on paedophiles.

"Yet these figures show that, with 30% getting off with a slap on the wrist, law enforcement is at its most lax in protecting the most vulnerable."

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said it was not always appropriate to make young victims go through the "trauma" of a trial.