Criminals will soon be able to dodge prison sentences by handing in £500 / York Press, 12 Feb 2007
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Helen Gabriel
"CRIMINALS in York and North Yorkshire will be able to dodge jail sentences by promising to make amends for their offences or paying a £500 fine. POLICE will use conditional cautions to tackle drug and alcohol referrals to begin with, but will then look at whether they can include other types of offences such as criminal damage. Under Home Office guidelines, the system could then be extended to cover crimes including actual bodily harm, affray, carrying a knife, possessing Class A drugs - including crack and heroin - and criminal damage. Looks at some offenders whose crimes would come under the "extended" list."