To feel that sentences in the UK for crimes are too lenient? Trigger warning

[isitfridayyet1]

Just that really, I'm feeling quite hopeless today. Sometimes I decide just to not read or listen to the news, as it's often full of stories about crimes committed against children.
Just read a very disturbing case I won't link as I was horrified by it, of a ex policemen and a top welsh lawyer being found guilty of some very disturbing crimes. The policeman only received 16 years! Of which he's been told he has to serve 12, I bloody well should hope so too! I imagine he probably used his position to gain the trust of others, surely an abuse of power of this sort should lead to an even lengthier sentence?

It's really affected my trust in the legal process. I mean what does someone have to do to get a long sentence these days! Be a mass murderer! I find it despicable this man will be out in just over a decade and will be free to continue his life on the outside. That poor, poor child and the other victims will always be affected by his actions.

I know he will probably be on licence even after release but at the end of the day he will still be free, whereas his victim will suffer life long effects. I don't know I just feel really, really sad about this and other similar cases and I know not all men are like this but there's so many stories about these days of a similar nature I feel I can't trust anyone with my son.
Does anyone know of a way o can channel this anger positively? Other than becoming an MP or getting involved in the legal system I don't know how I can work towards these crimes being taken more seriously or help the victims?

That story was disgusting from the headline alone. I didn’t read it.

There’s also the recent case of the policeman who raped up to thirty women and was meant to be serving two life sentences for that freed after seven, yes SEVEN years. Complete and utter farce. I’m not saying we should go full on America where you can face a life sentence for shoplifting from Poundland but FFS, you shouldn’t even have a realistic date of being freed where you’d still be alive if handed a life sentence. Is it any wonder people chuck acid in people’s faces knowing they’ll be out after a few years?

There’s some real crap on this thread!

So people who don’t pay council taxes aren’t routinely sent to prison. They are only sent to prison if they have been given every single possible opportunity to pay (will undoubtedly have already been to court about it several times) and have refused. Courts do NOT want to send people to prison for not paying taxes.

‘I think were too strict for some lower level crimes and shouldn't send so many to prison, and should do tough community work, strict curfews, courses they must attend and a fine with half to be paid to the victim ‘

Not true that child sex offenders are always housed seperately. Many have an integrated regime so they're on the same wing as everyone else. Dartmoor, Risley, North Sea Camp...lots of them.

Inmates have smart phones. They Google new inmates.

Considering Ian Watkins of the Lost Prophets was jailed for 35 years for child sexual abuse, these sentences are lenient.

Given their professions and crime I hope they don't get an easy time in prison.

Ian Watkins was given 29 years in prison and 6 years on extended licence. He was convicted of 13 charges which is why his sentence is so long. This Policeman was convicted of 6.

This country disgusts me with its so called justice system.
I read the story you're talking about and it made my blood boil.

I can't go into details as it's outing but I have personal experience of the utter disgrace that is the legal system for dealing with child abusers. It's all about the perpetrator and not the victim. There are a lot of child abusers out there, drb checks only work if there's been a conviction. Be careful who you trust with your children, even in a professional setting.

Totally agree. It's truly sickening that the most evil of crimes attracts such a short sentence, and the practice of housing them safely, alongside their fellow perverts adds insult to injury. I wish someone with the power had the will to do what the public wants, and overhaul it completely. One can only hope that prison guards sometimes 'look the other way' for 5 mins to let prison justice take its course.

Yes the Ian Watkins case was despicable, even worse that from what I remembered one of the victim's mothers was complicit in allowing him access to the child.

Its no wonder that when these perpetrators get out and are placed in certain areas in the country, people take matters into their own hands i.e the case currently in the news of the suspected released child murderer in Wales who now himself has been murdered!
I'm in no way condoning this but really unless the legal system has a severe shake up and give the sentences people deserve, more and more things like this will happen as people take the law into their own hands. I can't help but feel women and children tend to get a raw deal in the justice system time and time again and do wonder what the motives are of the law makers who allow this to happen, like one of the previous posters alluded to!
In consideration of my original post I'm going to make an appointment with my constituency MP to raise the issue and also research how I can help support the nspcc and other charities that help survivors. I'm really sorry to one of the previous posters who's had personal experience of child abuse issues I can't imagine what you must have gone through.
If can't personally change things I'd at least like to do what I can in my own small way.

OP it was me with the personal experience... good on you for taking a stand.

I hassled my MP numerous times, all I got back were letters making all the right sounds but essentially not interested. I asked to meet him to discuss it, he wouldn't meet me.
Social services didn't care and wouldn't intervene.
I contacted newspapers and tv programmes to see if they would cover my story, none of them would.
What do you do? I was/am so full of fight but you're just stonewalled by everyone who can help. People don't want to admit it happens or the scale of the problem.
And don't even get me started on the family courts and their veil of secrecy.