Burglars to avoid Jail

[farmboy]

Non-violent domestic burglars should no longer be sent to prison for a first offence, following a ruling by the Lord Chief Justice. Story Here

As it's the time of year for goodwil to all men and the like I'm inclined to agree with him.

Can we just take them round the back off a shed and the little mislead blighters. Suffering a burglary is a terrible feeling, knowing that someone has invaded your little castle, and invaded your privacy.

[Podie]

OK, plod related question... what's the difference between;

1) Theft
2) Robbery
3) Burglary

<-- 'cos I'm a simple lad.

[Shnozz]

i think these is sh*te. Where is the deterent? If I woke up and found some thieving bstd in my house I would make sure he went down. 6 ft down.

[Size Nine Elm]

Podie said: OK, plod related question... what's the difference between;

1) Theft
2) Robbery
3) Burglary

<-- 'cos I'm a simple lad.

From what I recall from a previous madcop post:

Theft = taking someone's property (whole bunch of definitions)
Robbery = Theft + Assault
Burglary = Theft + Breaking and entering?

Edited for assault on my spelling

>> Edited by Size Nine Elm on Friday 20th December 10:01

[TheLemming]

Size Nine Elm said:

Podie said: OK, plod related question... what's the difference between;

1) Theft
2) Robbery
3) Burglary

<-- 'cos I'm a simple lad.

From what I recall from a previous madcop post:

Theft = taking someone's property (whole bunch of definitions)
Robbery = Theft + Assault
Burglary = Theft + Breaking and entering?

Edited for assault on my spelling

>> Edited by Size Nine Elm on Friday 20th December 10:01

IIRC that definition sounds about right.

So what are they proposing we do with them?

I know that prisons are overcrowded and unpleasant places, but hell, arent they supposed to be bloody nasty (within reason of course)?

A good friend of mine spent a couple of months in prison. He would NEVER do anything that he thought would put him back in there.
So essentially it worked, not only was he "punished" fo his transgression, but the punishment was effective because it holds deterrent value.

If something no longer holds a value as a deterrent, its not an effective punishment.

WTF are they smoking? Surely if imprisonment doesnt stop someone re-offending, then perhaps another method of dealling with offenders is needed - but NOT a softer one, wheres the deterrent value in that?

[hertsbiker]

Don't forget that if you exceed 120mph, and DO NOT HURT anyone, you may face a jail sentance.....

[TheLemming]

Ah but remember that, according to our beloved media :

"Speeding is just as unaceptable as drink driving"
"Over the limit is over the limit, whether its speed or alcohol"

(None-verbatim quotes from govermnent propaganda muppets)

[sarcasm mode]
The punishments are so much lower for speeding than drink driving as well... Something must be done about this immediately!
[/sarcasm mode]

Is it just me that sees the focus of the law shifting to provide more protection and softer treatment for the scrotes, and more draconian penalties for joe public?

[johnelliott]

Most burglars have a drug problem. People with drug problems don't have any other problems. Prison is not a problem for them, when they are inside either they will be able to get the drugs they want or they won't- either way it's not something they worry about. While they are outside they will continue to steal whatever can be converted into cash to pay for their drugs.
This problem is never going to go away. If every drug addict in the UK was to be locked up today then there would soon be plenty more to take their place, the drug dealers would make sure of it.

The only thing homeowners can do is to make sure that their home is more difficult to break into than the next one.

John

[TheLemming]

Very good point John. I cant disagree with what your saying.

Perhaps the solution to an awful lot of crimes against people and property would be to solve the causes, rather than curing the symptoms of the disease afflicting society.

Would the world be a better place without Smack, coke and a variety of other substances? Hell yes.

Until that issue is resolved (or seriously curtailed) then the downward spiral of urban decay will continue unabated...

[CraigAlsop]

johnelliott said: If every drug addict in the UK was to be locked up today then there would soon be plenty more to take their place, the drug dealers would make sure of it.

I think you are right, so one solution is to take the drug dealers out of the equation & legalise most drugs & have goverment licensed establishments.
That way druggies don't have to turn to crime to feed their habit, and the government/society can make a small profit rather than a big loss.
Even people on drugs like heroin can hold down jobs so long as they have a consistent clean supply.

My choice of recreational drugs only consists of alcohol & caffeine, but I don't have any problem with other people doing it, so long as when they first took it, they were adults, and consciously made the decision to do it. (yes I know this often isn't the case)
I also don't want 'em driving while they're doing it too

[deltaf]

Nice to know that the burglars rights are being looked after so nicely then.
Basically, so long as its a first offence with no violence involved they get to walk!
So, you come home to find Mr B.Urglar rifling thru yer draws( ooer matron) and he jumps outa the window and legs it like Linford.
You being oot ya heed after drink driving home(different thread) call for da coppers.
Conversation goes something like this,:" hello? Police? Yeah ive just been burgled. No he didnt, he jumped out the winda and legged it. You what? What ya mean, he didnt assault me so you cant persue it? But he burgled me! So youre not gonna come round, cos hell only get community service?....Forget it ill get him meself. Whats that? If i do anything ill be arrested?"...
Another judge(i use the term very loosely) makes a stupendously dumb decision that will do nothing to help us, nay infact it helps the Theives!!!
Welcome to Britain year 2002.it sucks.

[xsaravtr]

They should be locked up for a first time offence, so it acts as a deterrant so it puts them off doing it again.

[swilly]

When I read this I . The nutters truly are running the asylum-send em all to boot camp and hard labour. Don't give em time to think about how shite their lives are, then educate the fcuckers.

[Jason F]

johnelliott said: Most burglars have a drug problem. People with drug problems don't have any other problems

Are you quite sure? If they have no other problems why are they taking drugs to escape their miserable existance for a few hours?

I don't think there is a simple solution to this one.

I would like to see enforced rehab (i.e. Jailed in Solitary and let the DTs ride) coupled with some sort of training to enable them to get a job and perhaps get out of the spiral of whatever that got them into drugs in the first place.

[martinh]

I think it is probably fair to say that the majority of young offenders are already badly damaged individuals - possibly the result of drug addicted parents, abuse (by same parents) etc. The trouble is virtually no money gets through to help these kids at source - its part of those taxes we all think are being spent on social services but which aren't somehow having any real effect. Funny that - its almost like someone was siphoning it all off. Once they have turned into scrotes however the damage is done and the rest of society needs the protection afforded by chucking the little pests in jail. Unfortunately the taxes we all thought we were being spent on law and order aren't being spent there either. Basically two cases of government mismanagement - I simply cannot imagine where all this money is going since everything just seems to get worse and worse while taxes go on rising. Determining the sentencing policy by the capacity limitations of the penal system seems a bit arse about face to me. Surely it is the government's duty to plan and provide this capacity based on all the data collection we also fund from taxation. This whole thing stinks. I am sure someone is on the make - just can't figure out who it is.........M

[johnelliott]

Jason F said:

johnelliott said: Most burglars have a drug problem. People with drug problems don't have any other problems

Are you quite sure? If they have no other problems why are they taking drugs to escape their miserable existance for a few hours?

Yes, I am. I realise that this is a point of view thing, and that others will take a different view. Let me explain mine-
All adults have to cope with a series of problems, right from getting themselves out of bed in the morning to go to work, right through to having to decide when to go to bed at night. Some people can't cope with that. Instead they choose from a number of possibilities including
-having a nervous breakdown
-giving their lives to God and leading an ordered existence as part of a religious community
-becoming a drug addict
If they decide to become a drug addict then they wake up when they feel like it, and start to deal with their problem, how to get money to buy their next fix. What other problems do they have? No possessions to worry about, no relationships to protect, no health concerns, none of the big and small problems the rest of us wrestle with.
That's one of the reasons why it is so difficult for drug addicts to come clean, as soon as they do all their problems start to come back

I'm not talking here about addicts who are still holding down a job etc, but the people who have dropped out of normal society altogether (the vast majority of addicts in fact, and burglars)

John

[stevenmr]

them all, we wouldn't need jail them (and pay for them) then.

[fish]

Prison should mean prison: hard work for the society doing usfull stuff chained up. scrupulessly clean prisons they do all the work. simple food limited recreational facilities. No physical contact with visitors and regular drugs searches. Anyone found with drugs the whole wing gets lockdown and removal of privaleges. No cigeretts or alcohol. No payment for work, and any screw caught smuggling joins teh prisoners.

Make prison very hard for shorter time thus cutting costs.

And why some one breaking into your house should have rights is beyond me.

[bob the planner]

It will be a points system next.

1 point for shoplifting, 2 for theft upto 20 for murder, rape etc. Fines for to go with the points.

Collect 12 points and you get to stay at one of HMs Hotels for a period which reduces your points total.

You can avoid prison by getting a letter from your local 'Mr Big' that you need to steal for your job.

Bob

PS Put 'em in prison and throw away the key (and forget to feed them)

[TheLemming]

bob the planner said:
PS Put 'em in prison and throw away the key (and forget to feed them)

And then you would end up with only a few (suspiciously well fed and healthy looking) Inmates left...