OFFENDERS across the Northumbria Police force area have escaped prosecution for serious offences such as robbery and sex offences.

National figures released through the BBC Shared Data Unit on Monday revealed that a total of 11,259 Community Resolution (CR) orders, introduced to deal with low-level crimes and anti-social behaviour only, were handed out by the force between 2014-2018, equating to three per cent of the 428,707 offences reported.

CRs are an out of court disposal which does not appear on a criminal record or standard DBS check, and does not count as a conviction.  

The figures highlighted that Northumbria have issued the orders for serious crimes, such as robbery, sex offences, violence and possession of weapons, among others.

The force which handed out the highest percentage of CRs during the same time period was Northumbria's neighbours Durham, at a total of eight per cent.

More to follow.