The guidance document, Final Warning Scheme – Guidance for the Police and Youth Offending Teams [492Kb PDF, opens in new window], published in November 2002, contains information for the police and YOTs on the implementation of Final Warnings.
See also the Home Office circular 14/2006 [opens in new window], published and implemented in May 2006, which provides additional guidance to support and update the earlier document. In particular, it:
- incorporates offences in new legislation into the existing gravity factor matrix
- discourages the use of reprimands/warning in inappropriate cases, for example for offences for which offenders should be charged
- seeks greater consistency between police force areas
- promotes better recording of reprimands and warnings.
The National Standards for Youth Justice Services has guidelines for Final Warnings from page 12.
Click to read more about restorative justice, and important underlying principle of all youth justice disposals.