RIOTS & CRIMES, AND REAL PUNISHMENT ?

Justice is generally based on the principle that "Crime must not pay".  Punishment should serve as a deterrent to criminals to reoffend.  Judges should not be fettered by guidelines from the Government or other external sources when passing judgement and sentencing criminels. 

These are the basic principles which must be respected.   Judges have a great deal of experience of sentencing Criminals.  If a judge fails to be right and just based on the evidence, then it is always possible to make an Appeal. 

The riots and crimes in Tottenham and other areas of London this last weekend, together with the horrendous damage to shops and private properties cannot be accepted nor defended.  There are, however, already some do-gooders who are blaming the Government, for, I presume, not mollycoddling the rioters.

There is however, a basic problem in the Justice System.  There are not sufficient places in prisons to house criminals for the whole length of their sentence.  As a result, on the initiative of the Secretary of State for Justice early release is decided to free cells urgently required for new offenders. 

This is not the ideal solution. It undermines the decisions of Judges. The only real and effective solution is to build new prisons, including some tailored for hardened criminals.  Prison is a deterrent !!!

Many prisoners released early have reoffended within weeks after their early release.  They were probably not prepared to face freedom.  This is where social workers and do-gooders could help.

However reoffenders are again a category of criminal which is not properly covered.  I think that consideration should be given to doubling the sentence or punishment when criminals reoffend.  Crime should not pay, it should not be a profitable occupation !!!  Once criminals understand the rules they will perhaps be deterred.

The message for the Conservatives is clear.  The legacy they inherited from the Socialists must be completely overhauled. Only then can electors expect an improvement in justice.    On all these problems the Socialists, Blair and Brown in particular, completely failed Britain during their 13 years in power.

Britain has problems like this now, and next year the Olympic Games will be held here !!!