Sir, The reduced workload of the magistrates courts which has resulted from the increased use of fixed-penalty notices and cautions by the police is a sign of success for Parliament, the courts and the police service (“Police cautions and on-the-spot fines leave magistrates with nothing to do”, Aug 28).

The objective was to provide the police with an appropriate way of dealing positively with less serious incidents and to free up police officer time to deal with more serious crimes. There is evidence in Staffordshire that this latter objective has been met; in the first quarter of 2007-08 the number of serious cases going to the Crown Court has increased by 24 per cent compared with the same period last year.

The 10 per cent reduction in crime last year reported by the British Crime Survey and the reduction in crime by half since 1990 has also contributed to the reduced workload for the magistrates courts.

The current thinking on policing, as documented by the Flanagan Report, the Casey review and the Green Paper, recognises the importance of the careful use of police discretion in order to ensure that the police response to incidents is focused on long-term problem solving and providing solutions that meet community needs.

Staffordshire police began this journey when I was appointed as Chief Constable in September 2007. From April to July this year Staffordshire Police cautioned 1,374 fewer people than in the same period last year and we issued 213 fewer fixed-penalty notices; in many of these cases the solution was not a criminal justice solution.

There is a legitimate concern that recent enforcement action by the police service has increased the criminalisation of young people. In Stoke-on-Trent the use of community resolutions has reduced the reoffending rate of young people by half in the past 18 months. This is a positive contribution to community safety and has made further reduction in the workload of the magistrates courts.

There is a real risk of cautions and penalty notices being used in inappropriate cases and great care is taken to ensure that this does not happen but the reduction in the workload for the magistrates should be welcomed as a sign of success.

There is an opportunity to review how resources can be used differently, in providing quality services to victims and witnesses and the opportunity to invest in the infrastructure of the magistrates courts, which have a vital part to play in the criminal justice system and in making our society safer.

Chris Sims

Chief Constable

Staffordshire Police

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