David Ruffley MP has today written to the new Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary, Simon Ash, asking why 174 cautions have been issued in Suffolk for sexual offences over the past five years.

Of the 174 cautions 9 were for rape and 46 were for offences involving children.

The figures were obtained by the BBC in a series of Freedom of Information requests to England's police forces.

David said:

'These new figures are extremely alarming. It is bad enough that so many offenders are getting away with virtually no punishment but it is simply staggering that it is happening in serious cases of sexual assault involving children.

'This is a direct result of the Government pursuing an agenda of getting detections in the easiest possible way even if the consequence is hundreds of serious offenders being kept out of the justice system.

'This must be having a serious detrimental impact on public safety in Suffolk and worst of all it is the most vulnerable in our society who are most at risk.

'I have taken the matter up with the new Chief Constable of Suffolk, Simon Ash, and asked what explanation he has for these figures and what guarantee he can offer the people of Suffolk that sexual offenders will be properly charged and not left to roam free in our county.'