Court sentences for rioters

[Jim Hardie 527]

There are going to be wide disparities in sentencing. A student looted two tee shirts and got a one day prison sentence as if it was a shoplifting offence. Because he had spent the night in the police cells he walked free. Compare this with the six month sentence a female received for looting a bottle of water.

[Jim Hardie 527]

My question is why different standards being imposed for all offences committed during the riots than have hitherto been the norm.

The magistrates courts have given prison sentences for petty pilfering and referred other cases to the Crown courts so that heavier sentences will be given.

Will such sentences become the norm in the future,and will the sudden availability of prison places continue,instead of early releases and avoidance of custodial sentences because of the pressures on the prison system.

 

Looting is not petty pilfering. You could have been shot on sight for looting during the blitz.

[fake 10]

Looting is not petty pilfering. You could have been shot on sight for looting during the blitz.

 

There is no specific law regarding looting and as such looting is classed as theft and dealt with in the courts as such.

 

You couldn't be shot for looting during the war in the UK.

[Mikes10 10]

The young people interviewed by the media about their robbing and rioting skills will always

be on the fringes of society. Not one respected business will be willing to employ them.

And why should they? For every young robber there will be at least ten decent young people

wanting to make a proper contribution to society.

 

The future lives of these young people will involve drugs, violence, social services,

the criminal justice system and prison.

Their victims will bare the cost in blood, tears, and heartache.

The taxpayer will bare the cost in money.

[andygardener 10]

My question is why different standards being imposed for all offences committed during the riots than have hitherto been the norm.

The magistrates courts have given prison sentences for petty pilfering and referred other cases to the Crown courts so that heavier sentences will be given.

Will such sentences become the norm in the future,and will the sudden availability of prison places continue,instead of early releases and avoidance of custodial sentences because of the pressures on the prison system.

 

My understanding from listening to interviews with magistrates is that they are handing down detterant sentances in order to discourage a repeat of the riots. Given that most of the offences were committed in what was basically a break down of law and order for several days in some locations the ability to prevent such scenes from being repeated will to a large degree depend on reminding people that even if in the short term there is nothing the police can do to prevent people stealing, burning and rioting that the consequences for those who do so in that power vacuum will be punished most severely. I'm sure if man of those up before the courts had known the sentances they would get beforehand many if not most of them would have not got involved.

[dacrlit 18]

Hung, Drawn and quartered. I am not joking, either.

[Jim Hardie 527]

There is no specific law regarding looting and as such looting is classed as theft and dealt with in the courts as such.

 

You couldn't be shot for looting during the war in the UK.

 

Surely it's breaking and entering at the very least.

As far as wartime looting goes. I wasn't suggesting you would be shot as a judicial sentence. If someone shot you in defence of their property I don't think there would have been much of an investigation.

[johncocker 10]

The young people interviewed by the media about their robbing and rioting skills will always

be on the fringes of society. Not one respected business will be willing to employ them.

And why should they? For every young robber there will be at least ten decent young people

wanting to make a proper contribution to society.

 

The future lives of these young people will involve drugs, violence, social services,

the criminal justice system and prison.

Their victims will bare the cost in blood, tears, and heartache.

The taxpayer will bare the cost in money.

 

they were the ones stood watching:rolleyes:

[taxman 12]

Well Charlie Gilmour got 16 months for swinging from the Centaph and throwing a dustbin whilst out of his head on booze and drugs.

 

It will be interesting to see the levels of sentencing for those who went on a violent, looting rampage, robbing anything they could get their hands on, assaulting anyone in their path and setting fire to peoples' homes and businesses.

[HeadingNorth 11]

 

Let's have the consequence of crime be of a level which will deter crime in the first place.

 

Harsh penalties do not deter crime. There any number of examples to prove that.

[RJRB 688]

Harsh penalties do not deter crime. There any number of examples to prove that.

 

Harsh penalties will never stop all crime,but the probability of being caught and receiving a stiff sentence will certainly deter many.

[HeadingNorth 11]

Harsh penalties will never stop all crime,but the probability of being caught and receiving a stiff sentence will certainly deter many.

 

It will not. It does not. There are countries with far stiffer sentences than ours and a higher crime rate.