Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris
She won't be inside for 5 months. In all likelihood she will be inside for about 8-9 weeks, then in the care of the probation service, possibly with a tag, for the rest of the time.
That said, I disagree that the sentence is absurd in the context of a riot. Wide-scale disregard for the norms of behaviour in our society that guarantee people can live and work without fear of assault on their person or property is exponentially worse than the activities of individual random teenagers shoplifting for the lulz.
The rioters crossed a big fat red line and the way the courts are giving prominence to the seriousness of the event, rather than the previous good character of some of the participants, is entirely correct IMO. There simply has to be zero tolerance of this sort of behaviour. It cannot become as normal as a drunken fight outside the nightclub on a Friday night.
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I agree that the surrounding context should increase the sentences as a whole. I have been pleased with the majority of sentences being handed out to the looters and especially the rioters. Everyone involved with the riots, the violence, and the provocation should see the inside of a prison cell.
However accepting goods which you known to have been stolen by someone else should warrant a fine, a criminal record and community service IMO. I think that is sufficient for the nature of the crime.