Sexual offenders in Yorkshire have been given police cautions for rape, shocking figures reveal

Charities supporting rape victims have demanded answers after data from Freedom of Information requests to Yorkshire's four police forces showed more than 80 instances where people who had admitted guilt in sexual offence investigations have been let off with a warning.

Police cautions - now known as 'simple cautions' - are given when a person has admitted to a crime, but are usually only administered by officers for minor offences such as vandalism. Officers can also give out conditional cautions, requiring an offender to seek treatment or pay for any damage.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that North Yorkshire Police issued three simple cautions in the York, Selby, Malton, Harrogate and Knaresborough boroughs, in 2015, 2017 and 2018, for rape.

West Yorkshire Police issued one youth caution in 2016 for a rape offence. Between 2015 and 2020, the force also recorded nine rape offences where prosecution was deemed "not in public interest".

Data from South Yorkshire Police shows there were 57 simple cautions, 12 youth cautions and two conditional cautions for serious sexual offences (including rape, attempted rape and sexual assault) between 2009 and 2017. The force changed its crime recording database in 2017, and between then and 2019 there were four adult cautions, three youth cautions and one conditional youth caution given out for sexual offences.

Humberside Police revealed it had not issued any cautions for rape offences in the past five years.

Katie Russell, spokesperson for Rape Crisis England & Wales, who founded Leeds-based sexual assault victims' service SARSVL, said that sexual offenders being let off with warnings were "sexual offenders at large".

"We don't have any answers as to why someone would be let off the hook like this," she told The Yorkshire Post.

"It is hard to imagine any scenario where a caution is an appropriate outcome for a crime as serious as a sexual offence, and it's deeply concerning that there should be any cautions for rape."

Sexual violence in Yorkshire and the Humber is currently higher than the average figure for the rest of England – at 3.02 offences per 1,000 people versus 2.54 per 1,000.

Ms Russell added: "For survivors of rape, there can be lifelong physical and psychological effects and this can have knock-on effects for the rest of their lives.

"We really welcome a review of the use of cautions in this way."

York-based charity Survive, which supports rape and sexual assault victims, said cautions for rape were "a symptom of a much bigger problem", namely a justice system which was "stacked against survivors" and "deterred them from assisting in prosecutions".

Mags Godderidge, the charity's Chief Executive Officer, said: "We need a complete overhaul of how we manage rape and sexual assault prosecutions through the police investigation and courts so that survivors can feel safe, secure, and supported as well as the courts having access to the best evidence so that justice is served."

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “I can reassure the public that cautions for a serious sexual offence are only issued in very exceptional circumstances and after consultation with the appropriate authorities. A further safeguard is that any caution has to be authorised by senior officers with specialist knowledge and experience in the protection of vulnerable people."

The spokeswoman added that the victim's personal wishes, the age and mental capacity of the suspect and seriousness of the offence were all taken into capacity when deciding on an outcome, and that decisions were made on "a case by case basis" and "in line with the Ministry of Justice guidance" over cautions.

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Horner of West Yorkshire Police, said: “In a very few cases, particularly where young people are involved, it can be the case that a conditional caution with carefully constructed conditions can be the most suitable way to ensure the victim and public are protected, and to manage the offending behaviour.

“The case is reviewed by a senior officer of Superintendent rank prior to submission to CPS, and then reviewed subsequently by a specialist CPS lawyer."

He added that decisions not to charge based on prosecution being "not in the public interest" were made by the CPS and were incredibly rare.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “Victims of rape deserve to know that their cases will be taken seriously and pursued to ensure they get justice.

“Earlier this year we announced a victims support package which provided £10m to rape and domestic abuse support centres and Police and Crime Commissioners to fund services across England and Wales, as well as a further £7m for a range of innovative programmes to help offenders change their behaviours and prevent these destructive crimes from happening in the first place.

“We will continue to work with the police to look at ways to improve their role in the investigation and prosecution of rape, and to ensure that best practice is implemented in every police force area.”

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you'll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click here to subscribe.