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Columnists on crime

Tuesday, November 18, 2003

?Crime and punishment: There is not much serious crime in the West Highlands and Islands. For all the national publicity given recently to some shocking police investigations, we are still lucky enough to live in the most law-abiding communities in Britain.
Perhaps, contrarily, for that very reason, we live also in an area where local courts traditionally hand down some of the most stringent penalties for comparatively minor crimes [. . .] Britain already imprisons more of its citizens than any other European country. There is no need for the Highlands and Islands, of all regions, to add to that unhappy record in such a monotonous and utterly unproductive way. . ." West Highland Free Press. Editorial

?Bargains at the great crime supermarket: [. . .] we seem to have lost the knack of identifying the offenders and working out what to do with them. The criminal justice “system” (a misnomer if ever there was one) increasingly resembles a jumble of supermarket special offers [. . .] Ms Jamieson and Mr Davis are looking through the wrong end of the telescope. It?s not the hardened criminals we should be worrying about but the fledgling ones.

At present, the only arresting sight is the politicians? increasingly desperate attempts to grab headlines. . .” Scotsman. Comment

?Bringing out the hangers and floggers: Here’s a proposal for all of us to consider over the festive period. Why don’t we bring back the stocks? This is a very effective and efficient, not to mention cheap, method of dealing with ne’erdowells. . .” Herald. Comment.

Posted by MM on Tue 18th Nov 2003 at 1:53 pm
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