Prosecutions warning by watchdog

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A watchdog said offences are increasingly being dealt with by a slap on the wrist or an on-the-spot fine.

Stephen Wooler, chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "There has been a decline in recent years in the number of prosecutions both in absolute terms and as a proportion of offences brought to justice."

He continued: "Typically, prosecutions now count for between 40% and 50% of the offences brought to justice within a criminal justice area.

"Enforcement is increasingly undertaken by alternative means such as cautions and fixed penalty notices."

He warned that the use of alternatives to prosecution had to be carried out with "appropriate discretion".

So many organisations now have the power to impose fines that "over-zealous" use may alienate the public because they believe they are being targeted to raise cash, he said.

The inspector said such issues could be better examined if there was one inspector covering the whole of the criminal justice system.

Mr Wooler also raised concerns over wide variations in the Crown Prosecution Service's success rate in its 42 areas.

In 2006/07, conviction rates in the magistrates' courts ranged from 92% to just 79%, while in the crown courts the range was 90% to 71%. The proportion of cases which were discontinued ranged from 5.8% to 14.4%.