YOUNG people are usually the ones expected to be in trouble with the law, but 168 Oxfordshire pensioners have been arrested by police in the past three years.

Figures obtained using the Freedom of Information Act revealed the number of over-70s arrested by police between March 2007 and April this year for crimes ranging from sex offences to causing death by dangerous driving.

Just eight out of the 168 OAPs arrested were women.

Between March last year and April this year, police arrested 41 pensioners for 53 alleged offences.

In one case, a 78-year-old man was given a caution after admitting unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16. Police said the Crown Prosecution Service had decided not to pursue the case.

Last night, the CPS could not comment directly on the case without the defendant’s name, but spokesman Jacqui Broadbridge said: “Every case brought to the CPS by the police is reviewed by the lawyer and the prosecutor’s code is applied.

“Firstly, there has to be sufficient evidence in order to secure a prosecution. Secondly, it has to be deemed to be in the public interest to prosecute.”

In other cases, a 77-year-old man was cautioned for allowing a dog to be out of control, a 70-year-old was charged with driving while disqualified, drink-driving, and driving without insurance, and a 71-year-old man was charged with assaulting a police officer.

A 71-year-old woman was bailed on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, and a 71-year-old man was cautioned for possessing an offensive weapon.

Another 70-year-old man was charged with breaching an antisocial behaviour order, racially-aggravated harassment and using threatening words to harass others.

The remaining cases were dropped and no further action was taken.

Oxfordshire’s police commander, Chief Superintendent Brendan O’Dowda, said: “The figure does come as a surprise to me.

“While the age of someone shouldn’t necessarily bar them from prosecution and arrest, certainly more recently our officers are encouraged to use personal discretion and a sense of proportionality when making the decision to arrest people of such age.”

Michael Rawlings, 75, of Sawpit Road, Blackbird Leys, said: “That does surprise me. I can’t really imagine a person over 70 getting into trouble. There are probably one or two hard nuts, I suppose.

“Most over-70s have a bit of discipline in them which teaches people a bit of respect, but that’s obviously not the case for some.”

Mother-of-four Hayley Townsend, 26, of Druce Way, Blackbird Leys, said: “I’m shocked. You would think the older generation would be more mature and no, it’s not the right thing to do.

“You would expect more of the older generation.”

Rachelle Kennedy, a spokesman for Age UK Oxfordshire, said: “Official figures show a complete drop-off in crime rates with older age.

“Of course, some older people commit crime, just as people of all ages do. The focus should be on the crime itself, not the view of who we expect to be the perpetrator.”