JUDGES JUSTICE OVERTURNED

Every week we read in the press that a criminal has been released early for one reason or another. Most recently, on "compassionate grounds", the Lockerbie Bomber and Biggs the Great Train Robber have been given their freedom. Why show compassion to criminals who cold bloodedly committed their crimes ?


These are but two examples which have hit the headlines, but there are many many other criminals who are released, but which we, the public, do not necessarily hear about on their release. When they reoffend shortly after their release we discover the true situation and are shocked.


We do, however, have a good idea why prisoners are released early. Prisons are full and space is needed ! This is not the reason given for an early release. That would be politically incorrect. The fact that prisons need to be built to enable judges to dispense justice and to help them maintain law and order, is not a consideration that has endeared itself to the Governments of Blair and Brown.


Early release is one method of avoiding overcrowding in prisons. The other important measure is not to prosecute ! This method does not help to maintain law, order and security one little bit ! It encourages, above all, petty criminals and juvenile delinquency, because they all know full well there is an overcrowding problem.


Sometimes I get the impression that criminals and offenders are released from prisons all too early and too easily. I would like to see a centralised registry where the reasons for an early release are set out, as well as the name of the criminal, the names of the people proposing the release and the names of all the people authorising the release. Such register should also indicate whether the trial judge has or has not agreed with the proposal of early release.


From the foregoing it seems to me that the efficacity of the British system of justice and the efforts of our judges is being undermined.