Tough Justice

[niceguy2]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14495104

Looks like the courts are treating every case seriously and every suspected looter/rioter will have the book thrown at them. Good I say but I can't help wishing our courts moved this quick/efficiently and as tough every day. I suspect the nation would have more law abiding citizens if they did.

[GypsyMoth]

shows it can be done doesnt it?

[maypole1]

I Am sure you won't find many judges who will sit round the clock.

But I do see your point my fil is a barrister and the couts operate between 10-4 even primark opens longer.

[Solopower]

I think this is just a first step, isn't it? I think they send them on to a higher court for sentencing. I hope they take their time over that, though, because imo you need time to make sure you have made the right decision and aren't just reacting to external pressure to be seen to be dealing with it.

[Solopower]

And tough sentencing isn't always right! They need to differentiate between a young person stealing a packet of crisps, never been in trouble before, showing off to his pals and now deeply ashamed - who will never ever do it again - and an organised gang of hardened criminals setting fire to buildings and destroying people's livelihoods, don't they?

[organicgardener]

There are reports that the younger offenders are getting the same slap on the wrists they always got.

[EdithWeston]

Solopower: magistrates' and higher courts will have to stick to current sentencing guidelines, which carry very different penalties for the various types of theft, which are in turn different from those for arson, criminal damage and all the other offences which may have been committed. The seriousness of a theft is not only a matter of value of goods taken, it's the nature of the theft (did it involve a break in? thieving by finding? theft from a person?).

Being involved in a disturbance (riot) is potentially an aggregating factor in any or all of these offences, and that may merit referral to a higher court.

You'd need to see a proper Court report which detailed all factors in each case before drawing conclusions about how consistently sentencing policy is being applied.

[Solopower]

Yes, Edith, and some of the media reports are misleading.

Justice has to be seen to be done, of course, and I hope we can have faith in the courts not to lump everyone together.

If the sentencing process is rushed, that could see the people who committed the truly violent crimes slip through the net, of course.