POLICE have cautioned people for sex offences against children, violent attacks and burglary, figures obtained by the Oxford Mail reveal.

Over the past three years, 6,553 cautions were given in Oxfordshire by Thames Valley Police, figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) show.

Cautions are formal warnings given to adults who have admitted an offence. Those who refuse cautions usually face criminal charges.

The figures include two cautions for sexual activity with a child, 16 for sexual assault on a female and one for sexual assault of a boy under 13. Five were cautioned for indecent assaults on children aged under 16.

Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre service manager Natalie Brook said: “It is always concerning to see cautions issued rather than legal proceedings pursued for crimes such as sexual assault.

“Sexual assault is an extremely serious offence and perpetrators should be punished accordingly.”

Cautions “risk failing to achieve justice for the survivor and send the wrong signal both to offenders and the public at large” she said.

A traders’ leader said he was concerned about an average 240 cautions a year for shoplifting. About 3,800 offences are recorded a year.

Graham Jones, of the Rox (Rescue Oxford) group, said: “If people think they will get a caution and walk away they might be tempted to do it again.

“That is not doing anybody any favours.”

And cycling campaigner James Styring said he was taken aback at the 53 cautions for bike theft in Oxfordshire over the three-year period.

Mr Styring, of campaign group Cyclox, said: “I am really surprised. I thought they would be taken to court. The least they could do is make them fix punctures for a week.”

Police spokesman Rebecca Webber said officers follow strict rules on issuing cautions.

She said: “They will have made reference to Home Office guidelines, taken into account the circumstances and views of the victim, the circumstances of the offence, the circumstances of the offender and the likely impact the caution will have.”

The aim “is to deter further offending” and she said: “If it is not likely to have this effect then it should not be used.”

Overall cautions were 2,688 in 2009, 1,866 in 2010 and 1,999 in 2011. The figures also show 252 cautions for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and 14 for household burglaries. About 1,750 burglaries are reported to county police each year.

A further 1,906 cautions were handed out for common assault and battery.

The Oxford Mail requested the total number of people who were charged instead of cautioned for each offence but this was refused under FoI rules.