The data come from a sample of police forces. In those police forces other than the Metropolitan Police, 63 percent of persons arrested or reported were prosecuted, 20 percent were cautioned, and 16 percent were disposed of by other means. The corresponding proportions for arrests for the Metropolitan Police were 66, 24, and 10 percent. Disposals by other means were most often used for those aged 16 or under. Thirty-seven percent of other disposals were for 10- to 13-year-olds and 19 percent for 14- to 16-year-olds for forces other than the Metropolitan Police in October 1995. The corresponding proportions for arrests by the Metropolitan Police were 45 percent and 32 percent. The primary changes in the use of each type of disposal between May 1994 and October 1995 occurred for the younger age groups, with increases in the proportion cleared up by other means for 10- to 13-year-olds and also for 14- to 16-year-olds for the Metropolitan Police. With the possible exception of 10- to 13-year-olds, these changes are consistent with changes in the cautioning rate for indictable offenses. Tentative calculations suggest that the decrease in the number of male offenders aged 10-13 and 14-17 found guilty or cautioned for indictable offenses between 1985 and 1995, and in the rate (number per 100,000) for male 10- to 13-year-olds, are not fully explained by the increased use of police disposals by other means. Notifiable offenses committed by children under age 10 were primarily for theft other than car crime and criminal damage. 8 tables and 2 figures