Offenders 'unpunished' by courts / BBC News,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7534337.stm
"Defence solicitors in England and Wales have warned serious offenders are getting off lightly because police are chasing performance targets.
They said on-the-spot fines and cautions were overused to boost convictions and avoid court cases. The latest Home Office figures for fixed penalties show a 37% increase in 2006, with a 17% rise in cautions."