POLICE in Lancashire have handed out more of a new type of caution which compensates victims than any other force, it has been revealed.

The 1,000th "conditional caution" has recently been given out, which bosses say was "nearly ten times more than any other force in the country".

Since the scheme was introduced in October 2004 the cautions have seen £70,648 in compensation handed to victims in the county for minor offences such as criminal damage, theft and some lower-level drugs offences.

A police spokesman said this had proved successful in more than 80 per cent of cases. If the offender refuses to make amends they end up in court.

He said: "The cautions are designed to speed up the justice process, often resulting in compensation being paid to the victims of criminal damage within a month.

"Lancashire is the only force in the country to embrace the benefits of conditional cautions across the whole force.

"Other areas are still in the early stages of using the scheme."

Inspector John Clucas, from Lancashire Constabulary's criminal justice team, added: "Once again Lancashire is leading the way in introducing new methods of quickly bringing offenders to justice, diverting minor cases away from the courts and thereby allowing the courts more time to deal with the more serious offences and offenders and those cases that are not admitted.

"The scheme gives offenders an opportunity to make amends for their crime, providing they are willing to admit they are guilty "This may be by way of reparation to either the community or the victim.

"The initiative has been a huge success for the force, particularly where offenders are genuinely sorry for their crime and want to make amends.

"It has also helped to ease the burden on the court system, whilst giving closure to the victim helping to compensate for any loss."

Prime Minister Tony Blair has said conditional cautions "show the community that they are paying something back".

They do not replace the existing cautions system.