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Original poster

AIBU to ask whether the death penalty should apply for certain crimes in the UK?

664 replies

PenelopeJoanSterling · 13/07/2026 23:04

Because the topics got mixed up on my previous thread i thought id ask here, for certain types of crime in the uk, would you be either for or against the death penalty for certain crimes and why ?

OP posts:
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6
JohnnieFedora · 14/07/2026 17:04

OonaStubbs · 14/07/2026 17:03

Japan and Singapore have the death penalty and they have very low crime.

I would be happy with either the death penalty or life sentences that mean life.

The current situation with killers receiving derisory sentences cannot be allowed to continue.

They don't have low crime because the death penalty exists. They have it because the society isn't deranged and vicious.

OonaStubbs · 14/07/2026 17:03

Japan and Singapore have the death penalty and they have very low crime.

I would be happy with either the death penalty or life sentences that mean life.

The current situation with killers receiving derisory sentences cannot be allowed to continue.

Backedoffhackedoff · 14/07/2026 17:00

WhatYouWearing · 14/07/2026 16:57

You’re not being unreasonable to ask but how it would be governed is another thing.

However today I watched an interview on YT with survivor Mary Vincent. She was 14 when a serial killer raped her, chopped off both arms and threw her down a steep hilltop.

She stuck her arms in mud to stem the bleeding, clawed her way back up the hill and walked for almost 4 miles, with multiple broken bones. The first people to see her were so scared they drove off. A couple then stopped for her.

Her attacker got out of prison in just a few years and killed a mother. They think he killed 14 women in total.

For him, yes, I’d happily do it with my bare hands.

That was in America so the death penalty didn’t help after all

CypressMoon · 14/07/2026 17:00

I'm totally against it. While a knee jerk reaction to someone like Jamie Varley might make me think I wouldn't object to it, in a case like Lucy Letby, it terrifies me. Very unstable conviction accusing someone of appalling crimes without real evidence.

WhatYouWearing · 14/07/2026 16:57

You’re not being unreasonable to ask but how it would be governed is another thing.

However today I watched an interview on YT with survivor Mary Vincent. She was 14 when a serial killer raped her, chopped off both arms and threw her down a steep hilltop.

She stuck her arms in mud to stem the bleeding, clawed her way back up the hill and walked for almost 4 miles, with multiple broken bones. The first people to see her were so scared they drove off. A couple then stopped for her.

Her attacker got out of prison in just a few years and killed a mother. They think he killed 14 women in total.

For him, yes, I’d happily do it with my bare hands.

NellieJean · 14/07/2026 16:54

concertinacornflake · 13/07/2026 23:06

No. Just no.

FFS no.

Read a bloody book about miscarriages of justice.

and that is all that needs to be said the rest is just pointless noise.

Biker47 · 14/07/2026 16:51

Yeah, I'd happily be the person to slip the noose on and pull the gallows handle on some of the animals in our society if needs be.

LlynTegid · 14/07/2026 16:50

No.

Not only because of miscarriages of justice but also some people would never convict a person if they knew that they were sending a person to their death.

JohnnieFedora · 14/07/2026 16:49

Pixilicious1 · 14/07/2026 16:33

Yes I would support it for certain crimes, particularly against the most vulnerable, children and the elderly.

What crimes? Murder?

What age is "elderly"? Because I can murder a person and not be killed, but as soon as they're elderly? That's a death sentence.

So what age is elderly?

Where's your line?

Backedoffhackedoff · 14/07/2026 16:48

nevernotmaybe · 14/07/2026 16:28

Yea, nothing manipulated about that stat at all. The fact guns are hard to get hold of on average, being possible doesn't mean the average robber knows how to walk down the street and get one, and that guns in general are rarer is completely irrelevant. An effort not needed for robbery, won't be taken by someone trying to do something quick and easy.

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What stat?

Backedoffhackedoff · 14/07/2026 16:45

PenelopeJoanSterling · 14/07/2026 15:40

Military ? hows they any different ?

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The military is no different. They are state sanctioned killings

but legally, they are allowed to kill under certain conditions, and they are overwhelmingly not in the uk, so they don’t apply to the discussion in hand

MerryUmberHedgehog · 14/07/2026 16:41

What a stupid stupid question and topic to raise. No is your answer.

OldHarper · 14/07/2026 16:39

I think it would be a great idea to have capital punishment, but for men only, as women really only commit heinous crimes at the behest of evil men. Maybe it should be extended to many other crimes that men commit and thin out the number of males offenders a bit

Pixilicious1 · 14/07/2026 16:33

Yes I would support it for certain crimes, particularly against the most vulnerable, children and the elderly.

nevernotmaybe · 14/07/2026 16:30

PenelopeJoanSterling · 14/07/2026 16:24

and puzzles me too

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It opens up questions and thoughts for anyone thinking, and not looking to hold a view regardless of anything else.

What is it that puzzles you, who do you think it is the same?

GerbilontheMike · 14/07/2026 16:28

The biggest deterrent to committing serious crime isn’t the punishment, it’s the likelihood of getting caught.

No one thinks I’ll commit that premeditated murder because if I get caught it’ll only be life imprisonment. They do it because they think they won’t get caught.

The other type of murder - the heat of the moment, crime of passion - people aren’t thinking about getting caught or the punishment anyway, so it can’t be a deterrent.

nevernotmaybe · 14/07/2026 16:28

Backedoffhackedoff · 14/07/2026 12:59

A uk comparator is armed robbery. The sentences for taking a gun to a robbery are very very high- as high as murder- whether or not you use it. The sentences for taking a replica gun are very very high also.

for this reason armed robbery is rare in the uk. It’s not worth getting a gun and risking 10
extra years inside vs taking a knife or baseball bat, when effectively all you wanted to do was rob anyway.

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Yea, nothing manipulated about that stat at all. The fact guns are hard to get hold of on average, being possible doesn't mean the average robber knows how to walk down the street and get one, and that guns in general are rarer is completely irrelevant. An effort not needed for robbery, won't be taken by someone trying to do something quick and easy.

Original poster
PenelopeJoanSterling · 14/07/2026 16:24

OtterlyAstounding · 14/07/2026 15:58

Should prison officers be imprisoned for imprisoning people? This line of argument never makes sense to me.

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and puzzles me too

OP posts:
OtterlyAstounding · 14/07/2026 15:58

JohnnieFedora · 14/07/2026 15:47

Also, if Man A kills someone, and then Man B from government kills Man A.... Should Man B then be killed for killing someone? 🤔

In your world, what crimes would people be killed for?

Also, if it was your child that had been wrongfully convicted and then killed. Would you still be happy for this punishment to exist? Because mistakes will, did and do happen.

Edited
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Should prison officers be imprisoned for imprisoning people? This line of argument never makes sense to me.

JohnnieFedora · 14/07/2026 15:47

PenelopeJoanSterling · 14/07/2026 15:40

Military ? hows they any different ?

Show quote history

Also, if Man A kills someone, and then Man B from government kills Man A.... Should Man B then be killed for killing someone? 🤔

In your world, what crimes would people be killed for?

Also, if it was your child that had been wrongfully convicted and then killed. Would you still be happy for this punishment to exist? Because mistakes will, did and do happen.

JohnnieFedora · 14/07/2026 15:45

PenelopeJoanSterling · 14/07/2026 15:40

Military ? hows they any different ?

Show quote history

They aren't (in theory) targeting civilians and killing them for crimes they commit.

Original poster
PenelopeJoanSterling · 14/07/2026 15:40

JohnnieFedora · 14/07/2026 15:06

State sanctioned killings are never a good idea.

Military ? hows they any different ?

OP posts:
Clemdfandango · 14/07/2026 15:18

In my opinion, any country that has the death penalty is backwards and uncivilised, so it's a definite no from me.

frockandcrocs · 14/07/2026 15:09

No. I do not trust this (or any!) government enough to believe that it would not get abused.

randomchap · 14/07/2026 15:07

Berlinlover · 14/07/2026 14:39

I live in Ireland and am strongly in favour of the death penalty.

Really? Considering the Birmingham 6 etc?