In June 2019 the BBC Shared Data Unit reported violent offenders were being handed informal punishments by the police, despite guidance restricting their use to low-level offences.
Offences including burglary, sexual assault, violence and arson have led police to issue community resolutions, which do not involve going to court.
Critics said the orders were being used "contrary to their original purpose".
The National Police Chiefs' Council said community resolutions should not be used in the most serious cases.
The BBC's Shared Data Unit analysed crime outcomes data published by the Home Office from 2014 to 2018.
It found:
- About 112,000 offenders had been dealt with through community resolution orders each year since 2014
- The orders represented about 3% of all crime outcomes, but there had been a slight decline in their use over that period
From 2014 to 2018, they were issued for:
- Some 2,500 sex offences including 27 rapes (police forces said these disposals could relate to sexual activity between children including sexting)
- Some 5,000 for possession of weapons, including knives and guns
- Some 156,000 for violent offences against the person including 1,720 for cruelty to children
- Some 151,000 for theft offences including 3,555 for burglaries and 309 for aggravated vehicle taking
This piece of content was produced by a regional newspaper reporter working alongside BBC staff.
The Shared Data Unit makes data journalism available to news organisations across the media industry, as part of a partnership between the BBC and the News Media Association. Stories generated by the partnership included:
- The Northern Echo: Rape and child abuse among crimes that never reached court 17 June 2019
- The Northern Echo: The pros and cons of police using out of court disposals 17 June 2019
- The Telegraph: Violent offenders avoiding criminal records through controversial community resolutions 17 June 2019
- Daily Star: Police use 'community resolutions' to deal with sex assaults and knife crime OUT of court 17 June 2019
- Swindon Advertiser: Police chief backs community orders 17 June 2019
- Swindon Advertiser: Experts argue the case for and against Community Resolutions 17 June 2019
- Portsmouth: The News: Robbers, sex offenders and drug traffickers among the thousands to dodge court in Hampshire as police issue 'resolution' orders instead 17 June 2019
- Portsmouth: The News: Top lawyer shocked that people charged with rape are being allowed to dodge court 17 June 2019
- Portsmouth: The News: Shocked politicians demand changes in legal system after rapists and serious offenders avoid court 17 June 2019
- Portsmouth: The News: COMMENT: It’s time for a rethink over ‘community’ punishments 17 June 2019
- Sudbury Mercury: Suffolk police second highest in country for 'Community Resolution' use 17 June 2019
- Ipswich Star: Suffolk police second highest in country for 'Community Resolution' use 17 June 2019
- East Anglian Daily Times: Suffolk police second highest in country for 'Community Resolution' use 17 June 2019
- Hexham Courant: Northumbria Police hand out Community Resolution orders to offenders 17 June 2019
- Essex: Daily Gazette: Stansted passengers to blame for rise in weapon offences settled out of court 17 June 2019
- Wigan Today: Getting away with it: Wigan criminals escape prosecution for serious offences 17 June 2019
- Nottinghamshire Live: Violence, weapons and drugs: The 1,600 offences a year which don't appear on criminal records 17 June 2019
- Cumberland: News & Star: Thousands of offenders escape prosecution 17 June 2019
- Stourbridge News: West Midlands Police defend use of community resolutions 17 June 2019
- Dudley News: West Midlands Police defend use of community resolutions 17 June 2019
- Halesowen News: West Midlands Police defend use of community resolutions 17 June 2019
- Kidderminster: The Shuttle: Data reveals West Mercia Police's use of Community Resolutions 17 June 2019
- Bromsgrove Advertiser: Data reveals West Mercia Police's use of Community Resolutions 17 June 2019
- Redditch & Alcester Advertiser: Data reveals West Mercia Police's use of Community Resolutions 17 June 2019
- Droitwich Spa Advertiser: Data reveals West Mercia Police's use of Community Resolutions 17 June 2019
- Lancashire Telegraph: Rapists and violent criminals given 'slap on the wrist' 17 June 2019
- Epping Forest Guardian: Nearly half of possession of firearms crimes in Essex ended in community resolutions 17 June 2019
- Lancashire: The Gazette: Here's why thousands of Lancashire's offenders have avoided criminal sentences since 2014 17 June 2019
- Bolton News: Fears victims are 'denied justice' as violent and sexual criminals spared court 17 June 2019
- Wales: The Leader: Figures reveal that thousands of North Wales criminals avoid prosecution through community resolution orders 17 June 2019
- The Sun: ESCAPING PUNISHMENT Violent offenders including rapists and child abusers are avoiding criminal records despite admitting their offences 18 June 2019
- The Times: Police letting off sex offenders and thieves who say they are sorry 18 June 2019
- Daily Echo: Thousand of crimes including sex offences and robbery dealt with controversial policing powers 18 June 2019
- Hexham Courant: Hexham's MP Guy Opperman reacts angrily to Northumbria Police use of community resolution orders 18 June 2019
- Rutland & Stamford Mercury: Police Community Resolutions are 'used sensibly' in Stamford, Bourne and the Deepings 18 June 2019
- Express & Star: Modern justice, or a soft option? 18 June 2019
- Shropshire Star: Modern justice, or a soft option? 18 June 2019
- Worcester News: West Mercia Police used community resolutions for hundreds of violent offences 18 June 2019
- Police Professional: Police use of community resolutions will decrease through new strategy 19 June 2019
- Surrey Live: People in Surrey avoiding prosecution for crimes including violent and sexual offences 19 June 2019
- Gloucestershire Live: Police defend use of Community Resolution Orders in sex, drugs and weapons offences 20 June 2019
- Nantwich News: Criminal Resolution Orders used in Cheshire for serious offences 20 June 2019
- Northampton Chronicle & Echo: Hundreds of violent criminals escape jail in Northamptonshire under community punishment law 21 June 2019
- The Sun: JEREMY CLARKSON It’s fine to commit crime… as long as getaway car sticks to the limit 22 June 2019
- Derbyshire Times: Derbyshire Police among forces most likely to settle cases out of court 22 June 2019
- South Wales Argus: Community Resolutions let criminals walk away without a record 24 June 2019
- Rochdale Online: Informal punishments handed to criminals in Greater Manchester reduces 12 July 2019
The story was also used by BBC South East, East Midlands Today, BBC Look North, BBC Surrey, BBC Sussex, BBC Radio Leicester, BBC Radio Stoke, BBC Tees, BBC Newcastle, BBC WM, BBC Radio Stoke and BBC Radio Leeds