VIOLENT criminals are among those who escaped prosecution after Hampshire police dealt with almost 3,000 crimes in six months through community resolutions.

Ministry of Justice data shows crimes including child sex offences, arson, robbery, sex crimes, firearms possession, perverting the course of justice and burglary were handled informally and not taken to court by Hampshire Constabulary.

Between April and September last year, the force used community resolutions to resolve 2,958 investigations.

They do not appear on criminal records, are not convictions and would not be disclosed to employers carrying out basic background checks with the Disclosure and Barring Scheme.

Designed to tackle low level offending, they can only be used where offenders admit guilt, with their use for serious crimes risking “undermining public faith in the

criminal justice system”, according to the Criminal Bar Association.

While they are mostly used as intended for minor crimes like shoplifting or cannabis possession, Hampshire officers issued them for crimes that could otherwise have resulted in a spell behind bars.

They were used to close 4.9 per cent of cases, including 794 violent offences, 27 weapons related offences and eight sex crimes.

Criminal Bar Association chair James Mulholland QC said the disposals “had their place in a functioning justice system” but should not be used as an alternative to prosecutions for serious offences, adding: “Anything less and faith in law and order begins to crumble.”

He said the sheer volume handed out for a range of serious offences “that would invariably end up in the Crown Court if prosecuted” risked undermining public faith in the criminal justice system.

Forces across England and Wales - with the exception of Greater Manchester Police - closed more than 66,800 investigations with a community resolution in the same period, including 17,300 violent crimes.

Of hundreds used for sex offences, two were for cases of child sex exploitation, four for rape and seven for sexual grooming. It is likely that others may relate to sexual contact between children.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said forces were expected to enforce the law, adding that community resolutions should only be used for low-level or first-time offending, and with the victim’s agreement.