I can recall when one of the last people to be birched on the Isle of Man was interviewed. He was charged with mugging and received six strokes of the birch for the offence. He said "it was the most painful and humiliating experience I've ever encountered and I would never ever do it again". The punishment fitted the crime and the victim was appeased by witnessing the event.
Unfortunately this kind of swift and decisive punishment is no longer administered in the Isle of Man because of European intervention, I.e. inhumane. But (of course) it's perfectly okay for the victims of violent crime to suffer at the hand of the perpetrator..!
I know that the UK hasn't had this kind of punishment for a very long time, but there are countries that still do and the people (in those countries) abide by the law because they know exactly what's in store if they don't.
I've been witness to a flogging when I was in (Riyadh) Saudi Arabia and (believe me) it was not a pleasant experience. But what surprised me the most, after the punishment had been administered, the victim and his family shook hands with the criminal as if to acknowledge that justice had been served and the matter was concluded. Barbaric you may think, but very effective as a deterrent for the criminal and satisfying for the victim.
I'm not saying that we should introduce public flogging (pity really) but (like I've said before) we're too soft with criminals in this country because they know that getting caught is not much worse than an occupational hazard. Where's the deterrent?
Now where did I put the strap?
Si thee
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