A few months ago I was involved in a car accident, where the person responsible wrote off 3 cars (including mine). After the police completed their investigation he was charged with careless driving, and I was told he would appear in court. Today I've received a letter telling me that instead he would have to attend a 'Safe and considerate driving course ' ...no points on his license or anything which was bloody good result for him, considering he was driving on the wrong side of the road .
But it's made me wonder whether police are being told to do whatever they can to keep cases - well, minor ones, anyway - out of the courts, to help them clear the backlog? Which I suppose makes sense, I was just a bit taken back by this concept.
Does anyone know if this is what's happening, or was this just an unusual situation?
Edited: I suppose I don't really mean lesser charges like I put in the title, more that people are treated more leniently and don't need to go to court.