The Left has never believed in tough sentencing, preferring to see criminals as victims of circumstance rather than the menace to society they really are.
This Labour government seems determined to follow that misguided tradition of soft justice, regardless of the threat to public safety. Almost every criminal justice reform it has brought in since the election has been designed to jail fewer criminals for a shorter time.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood cut the standard prison term from 50 to 40 per cent of sentence, resulting in two mass releases. Amid scenes of jubilation, lags were swanning out of jail early to be whisked off by limousine for champagne celebrations.
Then there’s the Gauke review looking at alternatives to custody and the Leveson review aimed at speeding up the court process – both of which will inevitably lead to shorter sentences.
Thanks to the latest brilliant proposal from the Sentencing Council, judges are being advised that if offenders are from an ethnic minority background a pre-sentencing report and review of their lives should be commissioned before deciding on punishment. Two-tier justice in action.
Writing in today’s Mail, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick rightly says hardened criminals are ‘laughing at the Government’s naivety’.
While recognising that some offenders merit a second chance, he is deeply critical of deplorably weak sentences given to persistent criminals. Ten per cent of repeat offenders are responsible for half of all crime. Such recidivists should be locked up for as long as the law allows.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood (pictured) cut the standard prison term from 50 to 40 per cent of sentence, resulting in two mass releases
Crush Crime found a series of offenders received soft sentences for sex crimes, violence and theft (File image)
Mr Jenrick highlights a career shoplifter with 171 previous convictions let off with a conditional discharge; a man sentenced to just nine weeks for beating up his girlfriend despite having a history of violence against women; and a violent criminal with 22 convictions given just ten months for savagely beating a man who tried to stop him harassing a group of girls.
What signal does this leniency send out to victims, many of whom have gone through the stressful and sometimes frightening experience of testifying in court?
Yes, rehabilitation is a crucial element of our justice system, giving criminals the opportunity to change their behaviour. But equally, if not more important, is the use of prison as a punishment, a deterrent and a means of keeping bad people off the streets.
Communities and victims deserve a rest from incorrigible offenders who blight their lives. Feeble slaps on the wrist won’t do. To quote former Tory home secretary Michael Howard: ‘Prison works.’
End asylum circus
The absurdity of the asylum circus was laid bare yet again yesterday, as it was revealed that the Gazan militant Abu Wadee applied for refugee status in three other countries before paying £1,300 to cross the Channel in a migrant boat.
Abu Wadee, who is believed to be in his 30s, was held by Immigration Enforcement officers on suspicion of entering the UK illegally
Having called previously for ‘death to all Jews’ and posed brandishing automatic weapons on social media, he cut a pathetic figure in court, claiming to be frightened, confused and a suicide risk. ‘I will die in prison. I’m a victim of Hamas,’ he said.
Wadee is clearly prepared to try every wheeze in the human rights playbook to avoid deportation. And the scandalous truth is he will probably succeed.
He has shown himself to be a potentially dangerous Jew-hating bigot, who has no right to be here, having arrived from a safe country. If we can’t deport men like him, the whole system is a sham.
