If you could change an existing law, what would you change??

[roaringwater]

Serious question. Of all the laws currently in existence (UK), which do you think should be different?

(It came up as a conversation with friends and caused much discussion. I didn't feel knowledgeable enough to contribute greatly).

I would like to see the decriminalisation of dispensing errors in pharmacy. It's archaic, nonsensical and not in the public interest. A blame culture is not good for patients.

I would abolish section 21 of the housing act so landlords cant just kick out good tenants for no reason. This is probably coming in sooner rather than later and there is already proposed legislation to this effect. I would also like to see the "fair rent" tribunals restored.

Decriminalisation of abortion care

Not naming criminals under the age of 18. I think it should be lower for serious crimes.

All the criminal-saving posts are interesting.

Not sure about the term “criminal saving”, but it does indicate that
people are at least starting to think a bit more about the concepts of justice and rehabilitation, which is a a good thing,

Make it illegal to test products on animals, and allow the testing on nonces and murderers

Rather than changing the law, I'd want to try to sort out some aspects of the legal system as it actually operates. What police priorities are, how the CPS decides to authorise charges, the hopelessly underfunded court system. What's the point in extending the sentencing powers for sexual offences, as is in the policing bill currently in the news, when it takes literally years to get a case to court. Victims and witnesses don't want to be messed around with delays for years only for a case to then be dropped because of a procedural error, or a last minute switch to a guilty plea. It's not in anyone's interests.

From a BBC article last week "We now have a record backlog of 57,000 cases in the Crown Courts - meaning that some trials will not go before a jury until 2023 unless things change substantially."

@givemushypeasachance the problem is we have to deal with attitudes like those displayed above

Assisted dying to be made legal in the UK.

I cannot express how strongly I feel about this. In the last year I have witnessed both my darling Nan and Dad suffer prolonged, horrible, undignified deaths. It must change.

Child's best interests and primary carer's welfare to become the primary and ovverriding consideration in Hague Convention and child custody disputes, instead of this disgraceful patriarchal system which is routinely putting women and children at the mercy of abusive men. It should be illegal for a man (or parent) to file a Hague application for forced return if he's been investigated or cautioned by police for abusing his (their) partner or child.

@givemushypeasachance

Rather than changing the law, I'd want to try to sort out some aspects of the legal system as it actually operates. What police priorities are, how the CPS decides to authorise charges, the hopelessly underfunded court system. What's the point in extending the sentencing powers for sexual offences, as is in the policing bill currently in the news, when it takes literally years to get a case to court. Victims and witnesses don't want to be messed around with delays for years only for a case to then be dropped because of a procedural error, or a last minute switch to a guilty plea. It's not in anyone's interests.

From a BBC article last week "We now have a record backlog of 57,000 cases in the Crown Courts - meaning that some trials will not go before a jury until 2023 unless things change substantially."

Rational and sensible, makes a lot of sense. I agree.

Can't be doing with the knee-jerk reacting, finger pointing posts, on the other hand. I know what word they'll want to use next 🙄

Legalise cannabis. Ridiculous that tobacco and alcohol are legal but a big of weed isn’t.

@LookAtAllThoseSocksSaidTheSock

All the criminal-saving posts are interesting.

What's a 'criminal saving' post?

Remove the concept of death by careless driving. If you're driving carelessly enough to kill someone, how is that not dangerous!?