Tough on crime, tough on the causes....

[Cyberman]

..... and how to make look like crime is falling by issuing cautions or 'on the spot fines' for shoplifting and violent offences.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7534337.stm

[ace00]

Liked this quote from the article:
"Another solicitor who works with the Ministry of Justice described the system as "staggering and deranged". "
That should be Labours election slogan.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

How odd that it should be the defence solicitors complaining...

Indeed - what a joke that the Courts are complaining about falling workload - I bet if I searched the archives there would be an article with them whining about lack of resources.

Don't forget that the legal system - Courts, everything, is run by Lawyers (including judges who are all either ex or current lawyers) - they aren't interested in justice or punishment, they are worried about falling income.

[Moose423956]

"NOT Tough on crime, NOT tough on the causes...."

[BoredBloke]

Indeed - what a joke that the Courts are complaining about falling workload - I bet if I searched the archives there would be an article with them whining about lack of resources.

Don't forget that the legal system - Courts, everything, is run by Lawyers (including judges who are all either ex or current lawyers) - they aren't interested in justice or punishment, they are worried about falling income.

On the radio this morning it was said that a while ago the courts were swamped and wanted a means to reduce the workload. This was what they got. It was also stated that the effects of this are

1 - Police hit their ratgets because the caution the dish out counts as a conviction on their targets.
2 - the fewer cases going to court do so on a charge that is less than it should have been - so conviction rates go up.
3 - people see it as being pointless calling the police because nothing will get done and so they fail to report things - so crime falls.

It's all just one big con. Crime isn't falling, it's just the percentage which gets reported gets treated less harshly and is counted as being less serious.

I think this report is good because it debunks the myth that crime is falling.