Lib Dems - femail shoplifters...
Discussion
...shouldn't be jailed. What the hell is all that about?
They're claiming that when a woman is jailed for shop-lifting the whole family might suffer, so she shouldn't be jailed. Firstly, what sort of message does that send to shop-lifters? In short, nicking from shops ain't so bad. Secondly, what about mail shop-lifters? Presumably they get a heavier sentence for comitting the same crime? It won't be long before the "politically correct brigade" ensure that no shop-lifter goes to jail. Thirdly, what about women with no families? Presumably, a woman thief is more likely to have kids (which means more chavs) because then it will be better for her.
So, then it will be: why stop at shops? Why not agree that any theft is okay, because no one was hurt, and they shouldn't be banged up because it's onconvenient for the family of the criminal. Following which it will be, "shop-lifting is not the only crime this applies to" and "hey presto" what little law and order there currently is will be going.
They're claiming that when a woman is jailed for shop-lifting the whole family might suffer, so she shouldn't be jailed. Firstly, what sort of message does that send to shop-lifters? In short, nicking from shops ain't so bad. Secondly, what about mail shop-lifters? Presumably they get a heavier sentence for comitting the same crime? It won't be long before the "politically correct brigade" ensure that no shop-lifter goes to jail. Thirdly, what about women with no families? Presumably, a woman thief is more likely to have kids (which means more chavs) because then it will be better for her.
So, then it will be: why stop at shops? Why not agree that any theft is okay, because no one was hurt, and they shouldn't be banged up because it's onconvenient for the family of the criminal. Following which it will be, "shop-lifting is not the only crime this applies to" and "hey presto" what little law and order there currently is will be going.
In my experience shop lifters never get jailed anyway. When I worked in retail we used to get the same motley selection of skagheads back every week, the police used to pick them up and they were either cautioned or given "community" sentences. IIRC this is getting worse already because police are now being encouraged to deal with "minor" (<£200) offences by the use of an £80 fixed-penalty ticket.
I really do wonder if the Lib Dems inhabit the same planet as the rest of us sometimes, although under a Lib Dem gov't there would be no need for criminal activity as they would have the government to steal our money for them.
I really do wonder if the Lib Dems inhabit the same planet as the rest of us sometimes, although under a Lib Dem gov't there would be no need for criminal activity as they would have the government to steal our money for them.
Of course the idea is daft. But, who cares? It's not as if they are going to be forming the next government is it?
As for the £80 FPNs, they are not such a bad idea. They are not used for persistent offenders, normally only first time/second time offenders. The biggest bar to crime prevention in this country is magistrates. Not the professional stipes, they take no crap, and sentence people properly. It is the (mostly) do-gooding lay magistrates who I wouldn't piss on if they were on fire, who hand out no sentence whatsoever to repeat criminal scum who should never be at liberty in the first place.
As for the £80 FPNs, they are not such a bad idea. They are not used for persistent offenders, normally only first time/second time offenders. The biggest bar to crime prevention in this country is magistrates. Not the professional stipes, they take no crap, and sentence people properly. It is the (mostly) do-gooding lay magistrates who I wouldn't piss on if they were on fire, who hand out no sentence whatsoever to repeat criminal scum who should never be at liberty in the first place.
Clearly, a blanket policy that gives female shoplifters an automatic immunity from the law is idiotic, but I think I can see where they're coming from. Sure, bang up the persistent offenders but I can't see the point in locking up a first time offender and taking all the kids into care at yet more expense to the state. The prisons are overcrowded enough as it is. I would have thought some kind of (properly enforced) community punishment would be sufficient.
xxplod said:
Of course the idea is daft. But, who cares? It's not as if they are going to be forming the next government is it?
As for the £80 FPNs, they are not such a bad idea. They are not used for persistent offenders, normally only first time/second time offenders. The biggest bar to crime prevention in this country is magistrates. Not the professional stipes, they take no crap, and sentence people properly. It is the (mostly) do-gooding lay magistrates who I wouldn't piss on if they were on fire, who hand out no sentence whatsoever to repeat criminal scum who should never be at liberty in the first place.
I couldn't hack a job like yours. You catch the criminal, sometimes at your own risk presumably, you gather all the evidence, you inform the victim, and the judge lets them go - only for them to re-offend. How can you possibly get any job satisfaction in such an environment? I'd love to be a fly on the wall on the cop-shop canteen after one of those toe rags gets let off.
xxplod said:
Of course the idea is daft. But, who cares? It's not as if they are going to be forming the next government is it?
As for the £80 FPNs, they are not such a bad idea. They are not used for persistent offenders, normally only first time/second time offenders. The biggest bar to crime prevention in this country is magistrates. Not the professional stipes, they take no crap, and sentence people properly. It is the (mostly) do-gooding lay magistrates who I wouldn't piss on if they were on fire, who hand out no sentence whatsoever to repeat criminal scum who should never be at liberty in the first place.
Maybe I should try and become one...
"Maximum" Don?
(You must have seen the series "Maximum Bob"....?)
No, we need to use a bit more common sense when sentencing people.
Obviously, some criminals need to be locked away from the rest of society, but there is an awful lot we could do with the ones that aren't a danger to others or their property.
For example, why not use work gangs from prisons to clean the streets? We'd get cleaner streets, the local authorities wouldn't have to pay for it and the prisoners would be doing something useful to society rather than sitting on their arses watching TV behind bars.
It's easy to say "lock up the scum" and not try to think of a sensible alternative that's going to benefit people. In fact, that's what's happening at the moment. Governments are afraid to do stuff like this because it's easier for them to paper over the cracks so instead of reforming the prison system they just bang up every criminal until the prisons are bursting at the seams and the funding is running out.
Obviously, some criminals need to be locked away from the rest of society, but there is an awful lot we could do with the ones that aren't a danger to others or their property.
For example, why not use work gangs from prisons to clean the streets? We'd get cleaner streets, the local authorities wouldn't have to pay for it and the prisoners would be doing something useful to society rather than sitting on their arses watching TV behind bars.
It's easy to say "lock up the scum" and not try to think of a sensible alternative that's going to benefit people. In fact, that's what's happening at the moment. Governments are afraid to do stuff like this because it's easier for them to paper over the cracks so instead of reforming the prison system they just bang up every criminal until the prisons are bursting at the seams and the funding is running out.
Playing devils advocate, if you take the opinion that women shouldn't be excused prison sentences because of the disruption to their families, do you also say that a speeding motorist losing their licence cannot ask to avoid a ban as them losing their job would cause disruption to his/her family?
And breathe - I swear my grammar's getting worse. I'm sure that shouldn't all have been one sentence.
And breathe - I swear my grammar's getting worse. I'm sure that shouldn't all have been one sentence.
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