A police chief has defended the use of cautions, rather than taking offenders to court, by West Yorkshire officers.

West Yorkshire Deputy Chief Constable David Crompton insisted the number of cautions used by the Force was a “drop in the ocean” compared with overall arrests.

Figures, obtained through a Freedom Of Information request, revealed 7,736 cautions were issued by West Yorkshire Police in the 12 months to the end of last September.

They included 2,655 for violence against the person, 1,586 for theft and handling stolen goods, 1,250 for drug offences, 973 for criminal damage, 65 for burglary and 20 for sex offences.

Some Bradford MPs and the Police Federation expressed concerns about the levels of cautions used.

But Mr Crompton pointed out that West Yorkshire Police arrested more than 80,000 offenders last year, and the number of cautions issued in those cases was significantly less than the national average for other police forces.

He said: “I realise that, at first glance, 7,736 cautions may appear a high number, but set against the overall number of arrests we make in a year, it is a drop in the ocean by comparison.”

Mr Crompton said 96 per cent of burglary offenders were charged, while four per cent were cautioned.

He said that, in relation to sexual offences, police charged more than 98 per cent of offenders, and cautions were only administered in particular circumstances, such as when young couples had consensual sex, but one of them was below the age of consent.

Mr Crompton said the overwhelming majority of offenders in assault cases were charged, the exceptions being when there was superficial injury or no injury caused.

For more details, read today's Telegraph & Argus