Deferred Cautions
Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/25/008687/O
Version Date: 09/09/2025
The Performance & Analysis Department have provided the following information.
Data Source
Crimes recorded on crime information system - NICHE
Data Processing:
Qliksense Occurrence People Links (All) Report
Filtered on Occurrence Tab: Outcome Subgroups
Prosecution prevented or not in the public interest
Out-of-court (informal)
Out-of-court (formal)
Diversionary, educational or intervention activity
Data Exported
Excel Filtered on Outcome Date: 01/01/2020 - 31/12/2024
Excel Filtered on HO Descriptions
Harassment
Malicious Communication
Stalking
Caveats/Limitations
No crimes/Cancelled Crimes excluded
Deferred cautions are now recorded as part of "Outcome 22: Diversionary, educational or intervention activity, has been undertaken and there is no public interest to continue". There is no way to break this subgroup down further.
Percentages are not calculated in the Occurrence People Links (all) Report
I would like to know how many deferred cautions /out of court resolutions were given by Devon and Cornwall police in the last 5 calendar years for crimes which may be related to stalking that is:
1 any crime of harassment
2 any crime of malicious communication
3 any crime of stalking.
I would like to see the breakdown of all deferred cautions/out of court resolutions and the crimes they were given for so that the above information can be seen as a percentage of the total deferred cautions
| Table showing the number of out of court resolutions given by Devon and Cornwall police between 01/01/2020 - 31/12/2024 for Harassment crimes by Calendar Year, Offence Description and Outcome Subgroup. | ||||||
| Year | Offence Description | Diversionary, educational or intervention activity | Out-of-court (formal) | Out-of-court (informal) | Prosecution prevented or not in the public interest | Total |
| 2020 | Breach of conditions of injunction against harassment. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 3. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| Harassment - breach of a restraining order on conviction (recordable) - Section 5(5) and (6) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 36 | |
| Harassment - put in fear of violence (recordable) | 0 | 10 | 8 | 57 | 75 | |
| Harassment - put in fear of violence (recordable) | ||||||
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| Harassment without violence (recordable) | ||||||
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997 | 2 | 28 | 33 | 255 | 318 | |
| 2020 Total | 2 | 39 | 42 | 362 | 445 | |
| 2021 | Breach of conditions of injunction against harassment. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 3. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Harassment - breach of a restraining order on conviction (recordable) - Contrary to section 363(1) and (2) of the Sentencing Act 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Harassment - breach of a restraining order on conviction (recordable) - Section 5(5) and (6) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 13 | |
| Harassment - put in fear of violence (recordable) | 6 | 6 | 10 | 29 | 51 | |
| Harassment - put in fear of violence (recordable) | ||||||
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Harassment without violence (recordable) | ||||||
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997 | 14 | 22 | 45 | 167 | 248 | |
| 2021 Total | 21 | 29 | 55 | 218 | 323 | |
| 2022 | Breach of conditions of injunction against harassment. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 3. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Harassment - breach of a restraining order on conviction (recordable) - Contrary to section 363(1) and (2) of the Sentencing Act 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | |
| Harassment - breach of a restraining order on conviction (recordable) - Section 5(5) and (6) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 18 | |
| Harassment - put in fear of violence (recordable) | 7 | 4 | 9 | 24 | 44 | |
| Harassment - put in fear of violence (recordable) | ||||||
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 19 | |
| Harassment without violence (recordable) | ||||||
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997 | 14 | 27 | 32 | 136 | 209 | |
| 2022 Total | 28 | 35 | 43 | 193 | 299 | |
| 2023 | Breach of conditions of injunction against harassment. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 3. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Harassment - breach of a restraining order on conviction (recordable) - Contrary to section 363(1) and (2) of the Sentencing Act 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | |
| Harassment - breach of a restraining order on conviction (recordable) - Section 5(5) and (6) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | |
| Harassment - breach of restraining order | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
| Harassment - put in fear of violence (recordable) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| Harassment - put in fear of violence (recordable) | ||||||
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997 | 18 | 11 | 3 | 58 | 90 | |
| Harassment etc. of a person in his home. | ||||||
| Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 Sec 42A Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Sec 126. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | |
| Harassment without violence (recordable) | ||||||
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997 | 11 | 35 | 18 | 203 | 267 | |
| 2023 Total | 31 | 47 | 22 | 284 | 384 | |
| 2024 | Breach of conditions of injunction against harassment. Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sec 3. | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Harassment - breach of a restraining order on conviction (recordable) - Contrary to section 363(1) and (2) of the Sentencing Act 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | |
| Harassment - breach of a restraining order on conviction (recordable) - Section 5(5) and (6) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Harassment - put in fear of violence (recordable) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Harassment - put in fear of violence (recordable) | ||||||
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997 | 20 | 26 | 14 | 99 | 159 | |
| Harassment etc. of a person in his home. | ||||||
| Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 Sec 42A Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Sec 126. | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 | |
| Harassment without violence (recordable) | ||||||
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997 | 40 | 50 | 26 | 328 | 444 | |
| 2024 Total | 65 | 79 | 40 | 453 | 637 | |
| Total | 147 | 229 | 202 | 1510 | 2088 | |
| Table showing the number of out of court resolutions given by Devon and Cornwall police between 01/01/2020 - 31/12/2024 for Malicious Communications crimes by Calendar Year, Offence Description and Outcome Subgroup. | ||||||
| Year | Offence Description | Diversionary, educational or intervention activity | Out-of-court (formal) | Out-of-court (informal) | Prosecution prevented or not in the public interest | Total |
| 2020 | Disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress (recordable) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 9 |
| Send letter / communication / article conveying a threatening message (recordable) | 5 | 18 | 41 | 315 | 379 | |
| Send letter / communication / article conveying false information (recordable) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 15 | |
| Send letter / communication / article conveying indecent / offensive message (recordable) | 0 | 3 | 18 | 47 | 68 | |
| Send letter / communication / article that is threatening / false / of an indecent / offensive nature | ||||||
| Section 1 Malicious Communications Act 1988 | 0 | 5 | 19 | 80 | 104 | |
| 2020 Total | 5 | 28 | 79 | 463 | 575 | |
| 2021 | Disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress (recordable) | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Send letter / communication / article conveying a threatening message (recordable) | 10 | 24 | 34 | 172 | 240 | |
| Send letter / communication / article conveying false information (recordable) | 0 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 21 | |
| Send letter / communication / article conveying indecent / offensive message (recordable) | 5 | 4 | 16 | 41 | 66 | |
| Send letter / communication / article that is threatening / false / of an indecent / offensive nature | ||||||
| Section 1 Malicious Communications Act 1988 | 6 | 9 | 19 | 49 | 83 | |
| 2021 Total | 21 | 42 | 78 | 276 | 417 | |
| 2022 | Disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress (recordable) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Send letter / communication / article conveying a threatening message (recordable) | 23 | 25 | 34 | 83 | 165 | |
| Send letter / communication / article conveying false information (recordable) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| Send letter / communication / article conveying indecent / offensive message (recordable) | 6 | 3 | 11 | 28 | 48 | |
| Send letter / communication / article that is threatening / false / of an indecent / offensive nature | ||||||
| Section 1 Malicious Communications Act 1988 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 30 | 55 | |
| Sending indecent / grossly offensive communications etc with intent to cause distress or anxiety | ||||||
| Section 1 Malicious Communications Act 1988 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2022 Total | 35 | 42 | 57 | 144 | 278 | |
| 2023 | Disclose / threaten to disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 10 |
| Disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress (recordable) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Send letter / communication / article conveying a threatening message (recordable) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 25 | |
| Send letter / communication / article conveying false information (recordable) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Send letter / communication / article conveying indecent / offensive message (recordable) | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | |
| Send letter / communication / article that is threatening / false / of an indecent / offensive nature | ||||||
| Section 1 Malicious Communications Act 1988 | 23 | 20 | 46 | 193 | 282 | |
| Sending indecent / grossly offensive communications etc with intent to cause distress or anxiety | ||||||
| Section 1 Malicious Communications Act 1988 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2023 Total | 32 | 32 | 50 | 218 | 332 | |
| 2024 | Disclose / threaten to disclose private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Send communication threatening death or serious harm | ||||||
| Section 181 Online Safety Act 2023 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 43 | 56 | |
| Send false communication with intent to cause harm | ||||||
| Section 179 Online Safety Act | 0 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 18 | |
| Send letter / communication / article conveying a threatening message (recordable) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | |
| Send letter / communication / article conveying indecent / offensive message (recordable) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| Send letter / communication / article that is threatening / false / of an indecent / offensive nature | ||||||
| Section 1 Malicious Communications Act 1988 | 28 | 24 | 19 | 101 | 172 | |
| Sending indecent / grossly offensive communications etc with intent to cause distress or anxiety | ||||||
| Section 1 Malicious Communications Act 1988 | 31 | 28 | 13 | 117 | 189 | |
| 2024 Total | 65 | 62 | 43 | 279 | 449 | |
| Total | 158 | 206 | 307 | 1380 | 2051 | |
| Table showing the number of out of court resolutions given by Devon and Cornwall police between 01/01/2020 - 31/12/2024 for Stalking crimes by Calendar Year, Offence Description and Outcome Subgroup. | ||||||
| Year | Offence Description | Diversionary, educational or intervention activity | Out-of-court (formal) | Out-of-court (informal) | Prosecution prevented or not in the public interest | Total |
| 2020 | Stalking involving fear of violence (recordable) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 11 |
| Stalking involving serious alarm / distress (recordable) | 0 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 16 | |
| Stalking without fear / alarm / distress (recordable) | 0 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 27 | |
| 2020 Total | 0 | 18 | 6 | 30 | 54 | |
| 2021 | Stalking involving fear of violence (recordable) | 1 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 13 |
| Stalking involving serious alarm / distress (recordable) | 1 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 18 | |
| Stalking without fear / alarm / distress (recordable) | 3 | 7 | 4 | 23 | 37 | |
| 2021 Total | 5 | 22 | 7 | 34 | 68 | |
| 2022 | Breach of stalking order / interim stalking order (recordable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Stalking involving fear of violence (recordable) | 1 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 23 | |
| Stalking involving serious alarm / distress (recordable) | 1 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 18 | |
| Stalking without fear / alarm / distress (recordable) | 3 | 15 | 3 | 13 | 34 | |
| 2022 Total | 5 | 27 | 5 | 39 | 76 | |
| 2023 | Stalking involving fear of violence (recordable) | 0 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 19 |
| Stalking involving serious alarm / distress (recordable) | 1 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 27 | |
| Stalking without fear / alarm / distress (recordable) | 4 | 11 | 3 | 37 | 55 | |
| 2023 Total | 5 | 26 | 5 | 65 | 101 | |
| 2024 | Breach of stalking order / interim stalking order (recordable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Stalking involving fear of violence (recordable) | 1 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 23 | |
| Stalking involving serious alarm / distress (recordable) | 1 | 11 | 1 | 25 | 38 | |
| Stalking without fear / alarm / distress (recordable) | 3 | 16 | 6 | 42 | 67 | |
| 2024 Total | 5 | 34 | 9 | 81 | 129 | |
| Total | 20 | 127 | 32 | 249 | 428 | |