Young Offenders Act 1997

A child may, at any time before a caution is given to the child, decide not to proceed with the caution and elect that the matter be dealt with by a court.

An investigating official who arranges for a caution to be given may, at any time before the caution is given, determine that it is not in the interests of justice for the matter to be dealt with by way of a caution and refer the matter to a specialist youth officer for consideration of whether action should be taken under Part 5.

The Director of Public Prosecutions may, at any time before a caution is given in respect of an offence referred by the Director under this Part, determine that it is not in the interests of justice for the matter to be dealt with by way of a caution and refer the matter to a conference administrator under Part 5 or commence proceedings.

An investigating official or the Director of Public Prosecutions must give written notice to the child concerned of any determination by the official or Director under this section.