It's an over-used idiom that 'The lunatics are now running the asylum', but the whole of the UK seems, at times, to follow the notion precisely.
Our wonderful 'Ministry of Justice' has recently decided that criminals who feel that they have been 'deprived' in some way or other, should be given lesser sentences. They should be treated kindly; wrapped in comfy cotton-wool and sent home to Mummy!
It is suggested that criminals who have lower educational attainment, lived in so-called poverty, and/or have experienced discrimination, should have these factors considered in mitigation.
In fact they have drawn-up a list of a dozen circumstances in which Barry Burglar, or Stanley Stabber should be given more lenient punishment. These include having family members who are also criminals, excessive use of drugs or alcohol, and negative influence from peers.
So, to round-up the Ministry of Justice's recommendations, if an aspiring criminal makes a nuisance of himself at school, spends all his dole money on drugs, alcohol, and tattoos, and chooses fellow criminals as his mates, then he can do whatever he likes and probably only get a slap on the wrist.
Well, it's an interesting idea. Our prisons will then only house the very worst mass-murderers, and all others will be allowed home to roam the streets with impunity.
Frankly, if the Ministry of Justice think this is a good idea, then they must be bloody nuts. We all want criminals OFF the streets and locked away, and the only way to achieve this is to build more prisons, and increase sentences. NOT the opposite.
Conclusion: Should you find yourself in the dock (in the UK), don't forget to tell the judge that you had a horrible childhood, you can't read or write, and you are on fentanyl. You should be home in no time!
This is an insult not only to the victims of crime, but also to all those from 'deprived' backgrounds who have NOT turned to crime, but have worked hard all their lives to achieve their goals.
Who are these bloody people at the Ministry of Justice? How did they get their jobs? How much are they being paid to utter such nonsense? I think we should be told.
Yes, the lunatics have taken over the asylum. Says it all. Which planet do these people live on?
ReplyDeleteThey live on the same planet as Tasker Dunham (below)!
DeleteWe are fortunate to live in a country able to offer fair treatment to those with such disadvantaged backgrounds. At the end of the day, it costs money in lots of ways, but we can afford it out of to taxes we pay: me on my bloated computer pension, you from your inherited wealth, Ursula on her comedy scriptwritin, Yorkshire Pudding on his rogue property rent, and Adrian still labouring manually well into retirement age.
ReplyDeleteI just thank god I'm not your neighbour. If everyone was kind to criminals, as you suggest, the country would no longer be viable.
DeleteYou are saddling the horse the wrong end, Cro. Careful. You may get kicked into the shin.
DeleteI believe there are still countries where your hand will be chopped off on stealing a loaf of bread. That you only did so because your brood is starving is immaterial. Let's leave aside that it's pretty short sighted to deprive someone of one of their vital tools [hands] to earn an "honest" living. Same with prisons. Want someone to become a career criminal? Send them to prison. University of life in the underworld. The tricks you learn. The brutalizing of an eighteen year old. A bit like growing callouses.
The magic word is rehabilitation. You don't whip a dog in the hope to make it docile. Whip a dog and you'll make it snarl.
I have no idea what the solution is. As long as there is cruelty in the nursery [childhood], as long as there is [state funded] poverty some people will try to make ends meet, by hook or by crook. As far as petty crime goes, I am a fan of community service instead of just stuffing prisons at great cost to the taxpayer. Of course, when it comes to the last bastion, namely taking another person's life, then, yes, definitely throw away the key. Unless there are mitigating circumstances ...
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Maybe we should bring back National Service. Give people a sense of discipline, and teach them a trade at the same time.
Delete280,000 hours of community service work was written off in 2023.
Deletehttps://www.aol.co.uk/news/equivalent-30-years-community-unfinished-230100679.html
Nothing surprises me any more. I can understand criminals being in support of these new relaxations, but for honest people to support them is bizarre,
DeleteThe problem with building more prisons is once they are full, you then need to build another one and another one and another one and so on, in the end there will be no space for the rest of us. Where do we go? One solution, harsh as it may seem, is to bring back the death penalty for those worst-of-the-worst criminals, that should free up a bit of space here and there.
ReplyDeleteThere's usually quite a quick turnover in prisons. Most are only there for a short while. As for the death penalty; certain people sacrifice their right to life by their totally unacceptable behaviour, and of course should pay the ultimate price.
DeleteA storm in a teacup. Judges take all this into consideration anyway and always have.
ReplyDeleteThis will only make things worse; it will become official. Already the streets are awash with people who have suspended sentences, and simply continue their criminal ways. Not building more prisons may save the government some cash, but it doesn't help the rest of us.
DeleteI like your plain speaking, straight talking, common sense posts. Can we build a prison for those politicians who are dragging us down the road to a dictatorship state.
ReplyDeleteI think a good slapping might help. So many of these high-paid bureaucrats are simply out of control.
DeleteAlex Chalk and Edward Argar are effectively the head honchos at The Ministry of Justice. They are Tory MPs.
ReplyDeleteNothing surprises me these days with either politicians or bureaucrats. They all have their snouts in the trough, and are determined to bring down Britain.
DeleteIf I was a victim of crime, I would want the criminal punished in acknowledgement of what they had done to me. Charities like XO Bikes and The Clink do great work to teach offenders a trade so that they can find employment on release from prison.
ReplyDeleteWe were recently burgled in France, and I don't think the Gendarmes even bothered to look for anyone.
DeleteIf things have already gone this far, don't be too sure that in future violent offenders, murderers - mass or otherwise - won't also just be given a slap on the wrist, a few hours community service, a nice financial incentive to set them on their feet, told not to do it again, and walk free.
ReplyDeleteThat's almost what happens at the moment, and these clots are suggesting it goes even further.
DeleteWhat would happen if, we took the money we spend on prisons, and worked to improve the lives of those who see no alternative than to steal? Can we change the lives of people and make society a better place?
ReplyDeleteThen we might as well all steal and benefit from the state as a result.
DeleteWhere is the logic is this thinking? Prison and rehabilitation should be the course of action.
ReplyDeleteThere has to be some form of punishment, as well as re-education; otherwise crime simply continues.
DeleteWhere did my comment disappear to?
ReplyDeleteI found it; it went to 'spam'. No idea why!
DeleteSo career criminals would be encouraged and supported by this awful scheme. Don't tell the governor of California (where I live) or Pierre Trudeau, they would embrace this awful idea.
ReplyDeleteThe criminal is more highly regarded than the victim these days. How on earth did we get to this!!!
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