Harper's Law

[GranpaB]

Has been passed after a two year campaign.

Life sentence for murdering an emergency worker.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-5939...

[Biggy Stardust]

All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.

George Orwell.

[Vickers_VC10]

Backdated to the three s who killed him? Oh...no then.

[ScotHill]

Biggy Stardust said:

All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.

George Orwell.

Can you explain why you quoted that?

[greygoose]

GranpaB said:

Has been passed after a two year campaign.

Life sentence for murdering an emergency worker.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-5939...

Good, shame it wasn’t in place for his killers.

[jameswills]

Biggy Stardust said:

All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.

George Orwell.

Good quote. This is a bad idea that is not in the public’s interest at all.

[roger.mellie]

ScotHill said:

Biggy Stardust said:

All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.

George Orwell.

Can you explain why you quoted that?

If I understand his point correctly I’m leaning towards agreement. I’m not at all comfortable with laws that distinguish the severity of a crime based on who it was committed against.

[Biggy Stardust]

jameswills said:

Good quote. This is a bad idea that is not in the public’s interest at all.

I'm not keen on the concept that some people are deemed of greater value than others.

[jameswills]

Biggy Stardust said:

I'm not keen on the concept that some people are deemed of greater value than others.

Totally agree. So we’re saying now that if that was me trying to stop thieves stealing my quad bike and I died in the same manner, it’s fine for them to receive a lesser sentence than if I was employed as a police officer?

You’re opening a can of worms here, it serves no benefit to the wider public, only to put a larger gap between the state and the population.

[andyA700]

The same judicial result should apply to all. Who knows where it will end up, if the killers (manslaughter in this case) receive harsher sentances if they take the life of an "emergency services" worker.
Makes the rest of us pretty unimportant.

[TheJimi]

roger.mellie said:

ScotHill said:

Biggy Stardust said:

All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.

George Orwell.

Can you explain why you quoted that?

If I understand his point correctly I’m leaning towards agreement. I’m not at all comfortable with laws that distinguish the severity of a crime based on who it was committed against.

Yes, I'm deeply uncomfortable with it too.

[roger.mellie]

jameswills said:

Biggy Stardust said:

I'm not keen on the concept that some people are deemed of greater value than others.

Totally agree. So we’re saying now that if that was me trying to stop thieves stealing my quad bike and I died in the same manner, it’s fine for them to receive a lesser sentence than if I was employed as a police officer?

You’re opening a can of worms here, it serves no benefit to the wider public, only to put a larger gap between the state and the population.

Yip, even if the PC would have to be on active duty for the law to kick in it still seems like a discriminatory bad law to me.

[agtlaw]

GranpaB said:

Has been passed after a two year campaign.

It hasn’t. Have you actually read the article?

[stitched]

ScotHill said:

Biggy Stardust said:

All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.

George Orwell.

Can you explain why you quoted that?

Are you really that thick?
A crime against me is now deemed of lesser importance than the exact same crime against a member of the emergency services, who are incidentally paid to take risks.

[ScotHill]

Okay, I'm not going to get into a bunfight as there is obviously some strong feelings about it, but I have no problem with the idea that people who are paid as part of their job to go into potentially dangerous situations get some additional protection/deterrent. Criticism of the law seems to be that it's unnecessary in that there is already life sentence for murder, and life sentence for manslaughter is available depending on circumstances.

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/-harper-s-law-...

https://emergency-services.news/barrister-brands-p...

[ecsrobin]

stitched said:

Are you really that thick?
A crime against me is now deemed of lesser importance than the exact same crime against a member of the emergency services, who are incidentally paid to take risks.

They are paid to uphold the law or provide support to those in need they are not paid to take risks, be assaulted or killed at work.

[TheJimi]

ecsrobin said:

stitched said:

Are you really that thick?
A crime against me is now deemed of lesser importance than the exact same crime against a member of the emergency services, who are incidentally paid to take risks.

they are not paid to take risks, be assaulted or killed at work.

Indeed. Neither am I.

So...

[Eric Mc]

jameswills said:

Biggy Stardust said:

All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.

George Orwell.

Good quote. This is a bad idea that is not in the public’s interest at all.

100% agree. Not a fan of mandatory sentences at all.

[Don Roque]

Good news. Anything that increases the punishment of offenders is a good thing. That it serves to afford greater protection to those who put themselves at risk to look after us is another bonus.

[Eric Mc]

Don Roque said:

Good news. Anything that increases the punishment of offenders is a good thing. That it serves to afford greater protection to those who put themselves at risk to look after us is another bonus.

I bet it won't offer one iota of greater protection. It certainly makes no difference to you or me - assuming you don't work in the emergency services. I certainly don't.

It's politicians pandering to the mob as far as I'm concerned.