Thousands of criminals are being “let off” with police cautions.

Sussex Police have allowed sex offenders, child abusers, violent criminals, drug traffickers and people caught with lethal weapons to walk away without charge – even though they admitted their crimes.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that out of 30,597 arrests made by Sussex Police during 2008 there were 9,824 instances in which a criminal walked away without charge.

The statistics have been condemned by MPs and victims’ parents, who say the policy sends a “soft on crime” message to offenders.

Blades Despite calls last year for people caught carrying knives to be treated more severely, in more than half of the cases where someone was arrested for carrying a knife there was no charge.

Out of 410 cases of people arrested for possession of a bladed article there were only 188 charges, compared with 211 cautions.

Shoreham mother Helen Long, whose 15-year-old son Michael Morgan was killed in a knife attack two years ago, said she was enraged by the police figures.

She said: “It angers me. It’s criminal. Michael’s death and all those other deaths from knives are pointless if people aren’t going to get the message.

“It all seems like it was for nothing if they are not going to do anything about people caught with knives.

“They should get the message out there that if you carry a knife you will be treated seriously. I’m not saying they should put everyone away, but they have to get the message.

“While people are getting away with it justice is not being done.”

More than half of those arrests for offences of possessing firearms and a third of arrests for possession of firearms with intent resulted in no charge.

Almost half the cases in which people were arrested for causing actual bodily harm resulted in cautions – a total of 1,401 out of 3,412.

According to the Criminal Justice Act, offenders can only be cautioned if there is enough evidence to charge them and they have admitted the offence. Anyone issued with a caution must sign a declaration, which is kept on their criminal record.

A caution is not a criminal conviction, but can be used against offenders if they commit further offences.

Arundel and South Downs MP Nick Herbert said: “I would want to ask the police why so many people are being let off with cautions. We should have zero tolerance for people carrying knives.

“Anyone carrying a knife without a reasonable excuse should be prosecuted. This does not seem to be sending the signals that it is unacceptable to be carrying offensive weapons.”

The majority of people accused of neglect or cruelty to children were allowed to walk free, with 41 cautions for the offence, compared with just 16 charges.

Only one person was arrested for child abduction, but they were freed on a caution.

In the whole of 2008 only one person was arrested for trafficking for sexual exploitation, then let off with a caution.

One person was freed after raping a male child under the age of 16.

Out of 95 cases where a female aged 13 or older was sexually assaulted, 13 were released with just a caution.

Two cautions were handed out to people who had admitted sexually assaulting girls under the age of 13.

Sixteen cautions were given for committing sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 , with just 18 cases resulting in charges.

Sussex Police said cautions were sometimes used in cases where securing a conviction was difficult.

A spokesman said: “There are times when a caution is indeed the most appropriate way of dealing with a particular allegation or offence.

“The decision to caution is not taken without the awareness and agreement of the victim.

“In the context of a rape or serious sexual offence, these allegations are notoriously difficult to prosecute or prove beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.

“This is a problem faced by not only Sussex Police but police forces throughout the UK.

“We are doing everything we can by increasing resources and dealing with such offences to increase prosecutions.”

--