Rapists among hundreds of sex offenders let off with a caution in London

‘It’s always in the public interest to bring a charge,’ argues women’s rights campaigners

There were 1,115 cautions for sexual offences – including 16 for rape – given in the capital between 2012 and last year (Getty)

Rapists are among hundreds of sex offenders in London only given cautions for their crimes, new figures have revealed.

The revelations have prompted criticism from women’s rights campaigners, who said it was always in the public interest to bring charges against sex offenders.

There were 1,115 cautions for sexual offences – including 16 for rape – handed down in the capital between 2012 and last year, responses to Freedom of Information requests by the Evening Standard showed.

Ministry of Justice guidance says that while cautions are available for any offence, they are “primarily intended for low level, mainly first-time offending”.

Police cautions are not convictions, but they require an admission of guilt. They can still appear on criminal records checks and offenders are made to sign the Sex Offenders Register.

The circumstances of the 16 rape convictions are not known, but police forces have previously defended giving cautions for some sex offences, saying they can be in the best interests of a victim. They have also previously argued that the recipients of cautions are often children.

Mary Mason, chief of charity Solace Women’s Aid, told the Standard that cautioning attackers risked the impression that sexual predators could be let off with a “slap on the wrist”. She said: “It’s always in the public interest to bring a charge.”

The new figures came after it was revealed that nationwide, 45 rapists were given cautions in the five-and-a-half years to May.

The Criminal Prosecution Service (CPS) said it ”carefully considers” each case before cautions are given.

“It is rare for the CPS to advise the police to administer a caution in sexual offence cases, and even more so in a rape case,” a spokesperson said.

“However, before doing so we will carefully consider the offence and a number of other factors, such as the ages, maturity and individual circumstances of those involved.”

Reports of sexual abuse have risen sharply in recent years, with alleged sex crimes and domestic abuse offences now comprising 20 per cent of all cases pursued by the CPS.

More defendants than ever before are being prosecuted for sexual offences in England and Wales, with 5,190 rape cases completed in 2016-17, up from 4,643 in 2015-16, according to the latest indepth CPS report on violence against women.

Prosecutions for sexual offences excluding rape also reached a new high of 13,490 in the latest financial year.