[denphone]

Originally Posted by Osem

Heard Ken this morning being interviewd on TV. His contention seems to be that many of those arrested during and after the riots were not new to the legal system and therefore that the system is failing them. That may be true in whole or in part for some, even many of these people, but could another explanation for their repeat offending be that the sort of treatment and sentences they've hitherto become accustomed to have been just too lenient e.g. warnings, token fines, suspended sentences etc. etc.

It's clear to me that more needs to be done to help rehabilitate offenders to reduce reoffending but I also believe less people would get drawn into this sort of crime in the first place if they knew there'd be no kid gloves and slaps on the wrist but that the courts would come down on them like a ton of bricks.

l agree.