Thousands of offenders take education courses to avoid prosecution - as crime ... trends now

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The number of thugs, drug offenders and other serious criminals told to have therapy or an education course instead of prosecution spiralled last year.

Home Office data shows a 128 per cent leap in offenders given ‘diversionary, educational or intervention activity’ programmes in 2022.

Police handed out 31,230 of the punishments last year compared with 13,718 in 2021.

Criminals who agree to a course, including therapy sessions to address offending, do not have to go to court. Last year 16,000 violent offenders chose to do so, along with 2,000 vandals and arsonists, 1,400 thieves and 5,000 drugs criminals.

Incredibly 93 robbers and 1,000 sex offenders escaped prosecution this way. The ‘diversionary, educational or interventional activity’ category – also known as ‘Outcome 22’ – was introduced in 2019 on the recommendation of Labour frontbencher David Lammy, who carried out an official review.