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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
XenoBitch · 14/07/2026 23:29

No. The death penalty is nothing more than revenge, and does not even deter people from committing the worst crimes anyway.

Original poster
PenelopeJoanSterling · 14/07/2026 23:27

RoyalIris · 14/07/2026 22:32

Referendums are often seen as the epitome of democracy - everyone has a say right? In reality, they are anything but. A decision is made by the often uninformed masses who then have no responsibility for delivering on that promise. So yes, the mice will vote to bell the cat but who will enact that? This is why you have party politics. You vote for the party you broadly believe in, they are then responsible for policy and you vote them out if you don’t like the policy. The mess that was the Brexit referendum is a case in point.

then why have democracy ?

OP posts:
RoyalIris · 14/07/2026 22:32

Referendums are often seen as the epitome of democracy - everyone has a say right? In reality, they are anything but. A decision is made by the often uninformed masses who then have no responsibility for delivering on that promise. So yes, the mice will vote to bell the cat but who will enact that? This is why you have party politics. You vote for the party you broadly believe in, they are then responsible for policy and you vote them out if you don’t like the policy. The mess that was the Brexit referendum is a case in point.

JohnnieFedora · 14/07/2026 22:31

ThatNewMoose · 14/07/2026 21:49

I mean it definetly wouldn't bother me if they brought it in for peadophiles and child killers...

Really? Even if your son was wrongfully convicted of being a paedophile? You'd not be bothered?

JohnnieFedora · 14/07/2026 22:30

Whammyammy · 14/07/2026 22:23

Paedophiles, rapists, murderers yrs. If 100% proven guilty (death, cctv, caught in act). There shouldn't be a place in earth for scum like that

Surely everyone is 100% proven guilty?

Are we saying we have to have a unanimous jury? Because you'd have to change the jury rules.

User3456 · 14/07/2026 22:29

No. It's not what civilised societies do.

randomchap · 14/07/2026 22:27

Whammyammy · 14/07/2026 22:23

Paedophiles, rapists, murderers yrs. If 100% proven guilty (death, cctv, caught in act). There shouldn't be a place in earth for scum like that

Are you wanting two levels of guilty? One where the death penalty is possible and one not?

iwasboredinbed · 14/07/2026 22:25

Whammyammy · 14/07/2026 22:23

Paedophiles, rapists, murderers yrs. If 100% proven guilty (death, cctv, caught in act). There shouldn't be a place in earth for scum like that

What about Andrew Malkinson? Who was freed after over 15 years in prison?

iwasboredinbed · 14/07/2026 22:23

ColdAsAWitches · 14/07/2026 21:35

The OP is posting articles that show the exact opposite of what she wanted, and you think people like her should decide on whether to kill people or not.

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She did the same on her last thread, about prisons in heatwaves.

Whammyammy · 14/07/2026 22:23

Paedophiles, rapists, murderers yrs. If 100% proven guilty (death, cctv, caught in act). There shouldn't be a place in earth for scum like that

JohnnieFedora · 14/07/2026 22:19

sanityisamyth · 14/07/2026 20:57

Yes. Costs too much to provide full board and lodging for long prison terms. Would then free up space for shorter sentences.

So what crimes are you killing people for?

randomchap · 14/07/2026 22:14

ThatNewMoose · 14/07/2026 21:49

I mean it definetly wouldn't bother me if they brought it in for peadophiles and child killers...

Sally Clark and Angela Cannings were convicted of infanticide. Would you have put them to death?

I've asked this question of lots of pro-death penalty posters. Not one has answered.

Are you going to be the one to actually answer?

ColdAsAWitches · 14/07/2026 22:02

PenelopeJoanSterling · 14/07/2026 21:48

do you say the same about the general public voting in politics ?

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Yes. A lot of things are too complicated for the uninformed to vote on. Look at the damage the "We've had enough of experts" group did to the country. There's plenty of topics that should never go to referendum. Deciding on state sponsored murder should absolutely not be left to the public.

ThatNewMoose · 14/07/2026 21:49

I mean it definetly wouldn't bother me if they brought it in for peadophiles and child killers...

Original poster
PenelopeJoanSterling · 14/07/2026 21:48

ColdAsAWitches · 14/07/2026 21:35

The OP is posting articles that show the exact opposite of what she wanted, and you think people like her should decide on whether to kill people or not.

Show quote history

do you say the same about the general public voting in politics ?

OP posts:
ColdAsAWitches · 14/07/2026 21:35

OonaStubbs · 14/07/2026 20:31

We should have a referendum on it. Give the people the choice.

The OP is posting articles that show the exact opposite of what she wanted, and you think people like her should decide on whether to kill people or not.

Givemeachaitealatte · 14/07/2026 21:16

Against for all crimes. It is not a deterrent and we are not savages.

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 14/07/2026 21:13

No. Plenty of countries have it. Move to one of them if you want to live that way.

Naunet · 14/07/2026 21:11

luckylavender · 14/07/2026 21:08

Thanks to David Lamy or thanks to the Tories for closing 23 prisons in 14 years

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Indeed, I would say both.

BIossomtoes · 14/07/2026 21:10

luckylavender · 14/07/2026 21:08

Thanks to David Lamy or thanks to the Tories for closing 23 prisons in 14 years

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Exactly. The early release of prisoners started long before this government was elected.

luckylavender · 14/07/2026 21:08

Naunet · 14/07/2026 20:59

I dont think its pointless to point out that "but America..." is not a good argument, in a debate, personally, but of course, you are free to ignore.

I think though that focusing on if its a deterant or not, as if that's all that matters, is pointless. There's a good argument, for example, in the fact we're about to release some very violent criminals into our society thanks to David Lammy. That may mean some innocent people are murdered as a direct result. So I would ask, is it better that a complete innocent is killed, or that a violent criminal who has already taken a life, is removed perminantly from society? I personally dont think there's a simple answer to that morally.

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Thanks to David Lamy or thanks to the Tories for closing 23 prisons in 14 years

luckylavender · 14/07/2026 21:05

I’m vehemently against the death penalty

BIossomtoes · 14/07/2026 21:00

Absolutely not. If killing someone’s wrong it’s equally wrong if the state does it.

Naunet · 14/07/2026 20:59

Backedoffhackedoff · 14/07/2026 20:48

I think your question is pretty pointless tbh and I’m sure you would accept it is too.

You are not going to get an analysis of the social political cultural and economic differences between the uk and Japan that influence our crime levels, particularly when you have specified it can’t be too simple.

Maybe it’s too simple to say that our societies are so very different we have very little in common and there little in their crime presentation toolkit that we can apply to our society

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I dont think its pointless to point out that "but America..." is not a good argument, in a debate, personally, but of course, you are free to ignore.

I think though that focusing on if its a deterant or not, as if that's all that matters, is pointless. There's a good argument, for example, in the fact we're about to release some very violent criminals into our society thanks to David Lammy. That may mean some innocent people are murdered as a direct result. So I would ask, is it better that a complete innocent is killed, or that a violent criminal who has already taken a life, is removed perminantly from society? I personally dont think there's a simple answer to that morally.

OonaStubbs · 14/07/2026 20:58

AnyDayNowChuckJacksonNSoul · 14/07/2026 20:34

Ain't going to happen.
America has it that isn't exactly working out is it for one of the most violent Societies in the planet.

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Japan and Singapore have it and they are peaceful.

Not all American states have it, the states without it aren't really any more peaceful or less violent than the ones with it.