Figures released by Merseyside Police show that the force used the sanction 47 times between January 2010 and March 2012, whilst Hampshire Constabulary used it 87 times and Norfolk Constabulary used it 39 times.
This compares to a total of 8,404 reprimands and final warnings being used across the three forces during the same period.
The Association of Youth Offending Team Managers (AYM) suggested that the low levels of use in the trial indicate the youth conditional caution may not be seen as a useful tool by the police.
Youth conditional cautions and simple cautions will replace the existing system of reprimands and final warnings in spring next year.
A trial was undertaken in a total of five police areas - but figures for Humberside and Cambridgeshire are not currently available.
The youth conditional caution will be the highest level of out-of court disposal available to police, and is being introduced to offer police officers more discretion in dealing with lower level offending.
It can contain a reparative aspect. For example, police may require a young person to pay compensation, repair damage they have caused, or take part in restorative justice.
Gareth Jones, vice chair of AYM, said other options may be more appealing for police. “To give out a youth conditional caution on the spot is quite difficult,” he said.
“The theory is quite straightforward but in terms of having enough information with which to make your decision, it is quite difficult. You need to consider the proportionality of the offence and you need to have someone who can implement whatever the conditions are.”
He said reprimands and restorative disposals may be seen as a more straightforward option.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said use of youth conditional cautions is expected to increase.
“While the number of these issued during the pilot was low, they were only available to 16 and 17-year-olds and required prior authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service," they added.
"Legislation due to be implemented next year will make these available for 10-to 17-year-olds and allow them to be used by police and youth offending teams without prior authorisation from the CPS in every case."
Details of the numbers of youth conditional cautions, reprimands and final warnings issued by the three forces are contained in freedom of information responses published on www.whatdotheyknow.com.
