Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill

House of Commons

Session 2006 - 07
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Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill

Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill
Schedule 11 — Alternatives to prosecution for persons under 18
161

Schedule 11
Section 53

Alternatives to prosecution for persons under 18
1
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (c. 37) has effect subject to the following
amendments.
2     (1)
Section 65 (reprimands and warnings) is amended as follows.
5
      (2)
In subsection (1)—
(a)
for paragraph (b) substitute—
“(b)
the constable considers that there is sufficient
evidence to charge the offender with the offence;”,
(b)
in paragraph (d), after “an offence” insert “or given a youth
10
conditional caution in respect of an offence”, and
(c)
for paragraph (e) substitute “the constable does not consider that the
offender should be prosecuted or given a youth conditional
caution.”.
      (3)
In subsection (3)(b) after “to be brought” insert “or a youth conditional
15
caution to be given”.
      (4)
In subsection (6), in paragraph (a)(i) after “to be brought” insert “or a youth
conditional caution to be given”.
      (5)
In subsection (7) for “In this section” substitute “In this Chapter”.
      (6)
For subsection (8) (cautions not to be given to children or young persons)
20
substitute—
“(8)
No caution, other than a youth conditional caution, shall be given to
a child or young person.”
3
After section 66 insert—
“Youth conditional cautions
25
66A
Youth conditional cautions for offenders aged 16 or 17
(1)
An authorised person may give a youth conditional caution to a
young person aged 16 or 17 (“the offender”) if—
(a)
the offender has not previously been convicted of an offence,
and
30
(b)
each of the five requirements in section 66B is satisfied.
(2)
In this Chapter, “youth conditional caution” means a caution which
is given in respect of an offence committed by the offender and
which has conditions attached to it with which the offender must
comply.
35
(3)
The conditions which may be attached to such a caution are those
which have one or more of the following objects—
(a)
facilitating the rehabilitation of the offender;
(b)
ensuring that the offender makes reparation for the offence;
(c)
punishing the offender.
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(4)
The conditions that may be attached to a youth conditional caution
include—
(a)
(subject to section 66C) a condition that the offender pay a
financial penalty;
(b)
a condition that the offender attend at a specified place at
5
specified times.

“Specified” means specified by a relevant prosecutor.
(5)
Conditions attached by virtue of subsection (4)(b) may not require
the offender to attend for more than 20 hours in total, not including
any attendance required by conditions attached for the purpose of
10
facilitating the offender’s rehabilitation.
(6)
The Secretary of State may by order amend subsection (5) by
substituting a different figure.
(7)
In this section, “authorised person” means—
(a)
a constable,
15
(b)
an investigating officer, or
(c)
a person authorised by a relevant prosecutor for the purposes
of this section.
66B
The five requirements
(1)
The first requirement is that the authorised person has evidence that
20
the offender has committed an offence.
(2)
The second requirement is that a relevant prosecutor decides—
(a)
that there is sufficient evidence to charge the offender with
the offence, and
(b)
that a youth conditional caution should be given to the
25
offender in respect of the offence.
(3)
The third requirement is that the offender admits to the authorised
person that he committed the offence.
(4)
The fourth requirement is that the authorised person explains the
effect of the youth conditional caution to the offender and warns him
30
that failure to comply with any of the conditions attached to the
caution may result in his being prosecuted for the offence.
(5)
If the offender is aged 16, the explanation and warning mentioned in
subsection (4) must be given in the presence of an appropriate adult.
(6)
The fifth requirement is that the offender signs a document which
35
contains—
(a)
details of the offence,
(b)
an admission by him that he committed the offence,
(c)
his consent to being given the youth conditional caution, and
(d)
the conditions attached to the caution.
40
66C
Financial penalties
(1)
A condition that the offender pay a financial penalty (a “financial
penalty condition”) may not be attached to a youth conditional
caution given in respect of an offence unless the offence is one that is

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Schedule 11 — Alternatives to prosecution for persons under 18
163

prescribed, or of a description prescribed, in an order made by the
Secretary of State.
(2)
An order under subsection (1) must prescribe, in respect of each
offence or description of offence in the order, the maximum amount
of the penalty that may be specified under subsection (5)(a).
5
(3)
The amount that may be prescribed in respect of any offence must
not exceed £100.
(4)
The Secretary of State may by order amend subsection (3) by
substituting a different figure.
(5)
Where a financial penalty condition is attached to a youth
10
conditional caution, a relevant prosecutor must also specify—
(a)
the amount of the penalty; and
(b)
the person to whom the financial penalty is to be paid and
how it may be paid.
(6)
To comply with the condition, the offender must pay the penalty in
15
accordance with the provision specified under subsection (5)(b).
(7)
Where a financial penalty is (in accordance with the provision
specified under subsection (5)(b)) paid to a person other than a
designated officer for a local justice area, the person to whom it is
paid must give the payment to such an officer.
20
66D
Variation of conditions
A relevant prosecutor may, with the consent of the offender, vary the
conditions attached to a youth conditional caution by—
(a)
modifying or omitting any of the conditions;
(b)
adding a condition.
25
66E
Failure to comply with conditions
(1)
If the offender fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with any
of the conditions attached to the youth conditional caution, criminal
proceedings may be instituted against the person for the offence in
question.
30
(2)
The document mentioned in section 66B(6) is to be admissible in such
proceedings.
(3)
Where such proceedings are instituted, the youth conditional
caution is to cease to have effect.
(4)
Section 24A(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”)
35
applies in relation to the conditions attached to a youth conditional
caution as it applies in relation to the conditions attached to a
conditional caution (within the meaning of Part 3 of that Act).
(5)
Sections 24A(2) to (9) and 24B of the 2003 Act apply in relation to a
person who is arrested under section 24A(1) of that Act by virtue of
40
subsection (4) above as they apply in relation to a person who is
arrested under that section for failing to comply with any of the
conditions attached to a conditional caution (within the meaning of
Part 3 of that Act).

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Schedule 11 — Alternatives to prosecution for persons under 18
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66F
Restriction on sentencing powers where youth conditional caution
given
Where a person who has been given a youth conditional caution is
convicted of an offence committed within two years of the giving of
the caution, the court by or before which the person is so convicted—
5
(a)
may not make an order under section 12(1)(b) of the Powers
of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (conditional
discharge) in respect of the offence unless it is of the opinion
that there are exceptional circumstances relating to the
offence or the offender which justify its doing so; and
10
(b)
where it does make such an order, must state in open court
that it is of that opinion and why it is.
66G
Code of practice on youth conditional cautions
(1)
The Secretary of State must prepare a code of practice in relation to
youth conditional cautions.
15
(2)
The code may, in particular, make provision as to—
(a)
the circumstances in which youth conditional cautions may
be given,
(b)
the procedure to be followed in connection with the giving of
such cautions,
20
(c)
the conditions which may be attached to such cautions and
the time for which they may have effect,
(d)
the category of constable or investigating officer by whom
such cautions may be given,
(e)
the persons who may be authorised by a relevant prosecutor
25
for the purposes of section 66A,
(f)
the form which such cautions are to take and the manner in
which they are to be given and recorded,
(g)
the places where such cautions may be given,
(h)
the provision which may be made by a relevant prosecutor
30
under section 66C(5)(b),
(i)
the monitoring of compliance with conditions attached to
such cautions,
(j)
the exercise of the power of arrest conferred by section 24A(1)
of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44) as it applies by virtue
35
of section 66E(4),
(k)
who is to decide how a person should be dealt with under
section 24A(2) of that Act as it applies by virtue of section
66E(5).
(3)
After preparing a draft of the code the Secretary of State—
40
(a)
must publish the draft,
(b)
must consider any representations made to him about the
draft, and
(c)
may amend the draft accordingly,

but he may not publish or amend the draft without the consent of the
45
Attorney General.
(4)
After the Secretary of State has proceeded under subsection (3) he
must lay the code before each House of Parliament.

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(5)
When he has done so he may bring the code into force by order.
(6)
The Secretary of State may from time to time revise a code of practice
brought into force under this section.
(7)
Subsections (3) to (6) are to apply (with appropriate modifications) to
a revised code as they apply to an original code.
5
Interpretation of Chapter 1
66H
Interpretation
In this Chapter—
(a)
“appropriate adult” has the meaning given by section 65(7);
(b)
“authorised person” has the meaning given by section
10
66A(7);
(c)
“investigating officer” means an officer of Revenue and
Customs, appointed in accordance with section 2(1) of the
Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005, or a
person designated as an investigating officer under section 38
15
of the Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30);
(d)
“the offender” has the meaning given by section 66A(1);
(e)
“relevant prosecutor” means—
(i)
the Attorney General,
(ii)
the Director of the Serious Fraud Office,
20
(iii)
the Director of Revenue and Customs Prosecutions,
(iv)
the Director of Public Prosecutions,
(v)
a Secretary of State, or
(vi)
a person who is specified in an order made by the
Secretary State as being a relevant prosecutor for the
25
purposes of this Chapter;
(f)
“youth conditional caution” has the meaning given by section
66A(2).”
4     (1)
Section 114 (orders and regulations) is amended as follows.
      (2)
In subsection (2) (which specifies orders that are subject to annulment in
30
pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament), for “or 10(6)”
substitute “10(6), 66C(1), 66G(5) or 66H(e)(vi)”.
      (3)
After subsection (2) insert—
“(2A)
Subsection (2) also applies to a statutory instrument containing an
order under section 66C(4) unless the order makes provision of the
35
kind mentioned in subsection (3A) below.”
      (4)
In subsection (3) (which specifies orders that may not be made unless a draft
has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament) after “41(6)”
insert “, 66A(6)”.
      (5)
After subsection (3) insert—
40
“(3A)
Subsection (3) also applies to an order under section 66C(4) which
makes provision increasing the figure in section 66C(3) by more than
is necessary to reflect changes in the value of money.”