A DUDLEY MP claims people accused of serious crimes including rape are avoiding having to answer to the courts.

Shocking figures published by Ian Austin show the number of cases heard by Black Country magistrates is down by a third.

Since 2010 the number of criminal, civil and enforcement matters heard in the region each year fell from 170,000 to 100,000.

Dudley Magistrates Court, which recently survived plans for all its criminal cases to be heard in other towns, heard 10,502 cases last year, a drop of 5,050 per year since 2010 despite the closure of Halesowen Magistrates Court.

The Labour MP for Dudley North blames cuts and says more cases are being dealt with out-of-court by police cautions and warnings.

Ian Austin MP said: “Magistrates in Dudley tell me that as a result of the reduction in the number of police officers, people accused of quite serious crimes such as burglary, assault, domestic violence and even rape, are no longer being taken to court in the Black Country.

“People in Dudley want more police on the streets, more offenders going to court and more criminals being put in jail.”

Richard Monkhouse, chairman of the Magistrates’ Association, added: “These figures are quite stark. Our members have had concerns about the use of out-of-court disposals for some time and we have campaigned for better scrutiny of their use.

“Some of these disposals are appropriate for low-level offences, but many have been used for serious offences and prolific offenders, this doesn’t provide justice for victims.”