What is an out of court disposal?
<p>Several <a href="https://law.stackexchange.com/search?q=%22Out+of+court+disposal%22">recent questions</a> have elicited answers mentioning out of court disposals. What are these?</p>

<p>They are a proportionate process for concluding an investigation in to low-level offending without the need for a trail. Or  as <a href="https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/victims-witnesses-and-offenders/out-of-court-disposals/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Avon and Somerset Police</a> put it:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Out of court disposals are a way of dealing with less serious offending.</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.southyorks.police.uk/find-out/out-of-court-disposals/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">South Yorkshire Police</a> offers this:</p>
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<p>Out of Court Disposals (“OOCD’s”) are one of several methods of concluding criminal investigations without proceeding to a formal court prosecution.  They are administered to offenders to enable the police to deal proportionately with mainly (but not exclusively) low-level, often first-time offending and with a view to maximising victim satisfaction whilst addressing the offending behaviour and criminogenic needs of the offender.</p>
<p>South Yorkshire Police currently operates a 5 tier framework for Adult OOCD's for those offenders aged 18 years and over.  This includes;</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Adult ‘Simple’ Caution,</p>
</li>
<li><p>Adult Conditional Caution,</p>
</li>
<li><p>Community Resolution,</p>
</li>
<li><p>Penalty Notice for Disorder and</p>
</li>
<li><p>Cannabis/Khat Warning.</p>
</li>
</ul>
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<p>As well as repeating the above, the Sentencing Council's <a href="https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/explanatory-material/magistrates-court/item/out-of-court-disposals/1-introduction-to-out-of-court-disposals/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Introduction to out of court disposals</a> includes:</p>
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<p>Local authorities and other land managers can also issue fixed penalty notices as an alternative to prosecution for certain environmental and other anti-social behaviour offences.</p>
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