MORE than 170 sex offenders have been given cautions by Suffolk police in the past five years.Among the total of 174 cautions dished out to perverts since 2002, nine were issued for alleged rapes and 46 for offences against children.

MORE than 170 sex offenders have been given cautions by Suffolk police in the past five years, it emerged today.

Among the 174 cautions dished out to perverts since 2002, nine were issued for alleged rapes and 46 for offences against children.

The figures came to light following a Freedom of Information request which showed that nationally almost 8,000 sex offenders were cautioned rather than charged in the past five years.

Anne-Marie Breach, spokeswoman for Suffolk Constabulary, said: “Cautions for sexual offences are issued in accordance with national guidance and are issued only after careful consideration has been given to the full circumstances.

“There would need to be evidence of a clear admission of guilt whilst age, welfare, mental well-being and the views of the victim would be taken into account.

“Cautions trigger a requirement to comply with the notification provisions of part two of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, commonly referred to as the sex offenders register.”

Nationally cautions were given for 1,600 sex offences involving children, 350 of which involved a victim under the age of 13. There were also cautions give for 230 rapes.

The Evening Star reported in April that more than 40 Suffolk paedophiles and sex offenders received police cautions in the past year instead of being charged.

The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, showed at least 15 sex attacks on children were not prosecuted. Among the child sex crimes that never reached court were two assaults on girls under 13 and seven cases of sexual activity involving children between 13 and 15.