Off Topic And Now for Something Completely Different

The starting point in sentencing guidelines was 13 years,Mrs 'Justice' Tipples clearly bought into their mitigation/sob story.

Never was there a more opportune moment in History to make a definitive statement of intent and sentence them to life imprisonment with absolutely no possibility of release.

This Country and Government are about to embark on measures to obliterate knife crime,the opportunity to halve it overnight has been missed?

 

But they're not Ric.
Yes, they've banned machetes & zombie knives.
They should have done the same with carrying any knife in public (bar clear, obvious needs like certain tradesmen of course). Meaning, just ban them NOW. Instead they've set themselves a ridiculously unambitious target of "halving knife crime by 2030", meanwhile stabbings & fatalities will continue. Or have I missed something?
If the issue is shortage of prison spaces, just listed to Anne Widdecombe. It really isn't difficult ... if there was a will.

 

I have nothing but sympathy for the parents of the victim and quite understand their distress at the sentence, the whole affair is just a huge tragedy.
But, what would you have done with these 2 12 year olds instead? Myself, I don't know. Lock them up and throw away the key? We don't do that thankfully. Lock them up for a bit longer so they're not out until their 30's or 40's? Does that really make that much difference?
How do we deal with offenders like these 2 without taking a step back into the Dark Ages?

 

No simple answer/s

On the news the other day about one of the manufacturers being paid to destroy the knives it had made before they became illegal...
Work on distribution, can be bought easily on Ebay etc. Work on this and the distribution be held to account.
The post can / do check and intervene apparently
More prisons (sadly), rehab in prisons, not just holding cells. More police to catch people generally, bigger legal system to prosecute or divert, when out enough probation staff to actually do something... Etc.
Will take a long time and money...

 

Twenty years ago on entering an American small-town bar, a sign read "All knives over 12 inches in length Must be checked at the door". My work mates and I just laughed at at it, pointing out to the doorman, that length is not a knife, it's a f*****g sword. Though, quite what you were going to do with a 12 inch knife in a state that allows the open carry of guns I am not sure.We explained that in the UK just carrying any knife could land you in jail. He was somewhat shocked and wanted to know why.
Good to see this country has adopted the liberal views of said doorman.

 

The choice is stark and simple.
'Invest' in all of that, or else continue to see the epidemic we see.
Odd that they magic up prison cells, police, courts, etc for protest by 'concerned citizens' (not for one minute condoning attacks on police, hotels, etc).
Make it illegal and with harsh consequences with immediate effect and hey presto, a lot of it will end overnight (no, not all, but a lot).
The will just simply isn't strong enough, and I can't for the life of me get my head round why that is the case.

 

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I understand your post and realise your sympathy,it is a huge tragedy that should never reappear and that to me is why,in today's current climate,it was the perfect opportunity to ram home a clear message,as in...It stops now and your age or mitigation isn't an excuse?

Yes,I'd have given them both life,perhaps it's best I'm not in a position to do so.

 

Just reminded me of the great Bill Bailey’s song for Adele at the end of this clip.