The prisons are full. The law-makers in Whitehall have decided the best way forward is to de-criminalise crime.
Under instructions being sent to all police forces, a range of 60 offences including some incidents of theft, assault, arson and burglary, can now be dealt with by a caution.
If we needed any proof that the lunatics have taken over the asylum, it comes in the "mitigating factors" police are being ordered to consider.
For example, a caution may be given in a theft "because of poverty or need"or if an assault is deemed to be impulsive rather than planned. This is a liar's charter.
The policy defies belief. These cautions are intended for first offences. The aim is to keep tens of thousands of offenders out of the courts and possibly out of the crime statistics.
But this state-sponsored leniency will be paid for in untold financial loss, terror and anguish among the victims of these fearless offenders.
The lesson of history is that the softer we are on crime, the more crime we get.
The most successful crime initiative in recent times was New York's "broken window" policy where the police and courts cracked down hard on minor cases of vandalism in order to nip criminality in the bud.
England is moving in the opposite direction, virtually ignoring some crimes and then wondering why our prisons are packed.
We demand tougher sentences, not soft options. And we are not alone.
The abduction and murder of a baby in Italy brought widespread calls at the weekend for the reintroduction of the death penalty there.
A majority of Britons, too, want a system where the punishment fits the crime.
All over Europe, bleeding-heart do-gooders are passing laws which make life safer for criminals and more dangerous for innocent, decent, law-abiding people.
Where are the politicians with the moral courage to say enough is enough?
The kid glove has failed. Bring on the iron first.
Generous gesture teaches a lesson
A fortune shared is a fortune well spent. After a spell in the doldrums, Marks & Spencer is heading for massive profits and will share £60 million among its employees.
And why not? Millionaire bosses and consultants may draw up the grand strategy of success but the people who make it work are the managers, sales assistants, checkout girls and shelf-stackers.
They put in the hours. They deserve a share of the spoils. And nothing is quite as welcome as a bonus in the wage packet.
Well done M&S. What a pity more firms don't do the same.
No comments:
Post a Comment