Sentencing should be in the hands of Judges (Aberdeen South & North Kincardine Liberal Democrats)

Aberdeen South & North Kincardine Liberal Democrats <info@aberdeensouthlibdems.org.uk>

Sentencing should be in the hands of Judges

February 10, 2010 3:54 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Commenting on Labour calls for a mandatory sentence for people caught in possession of a knife, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesman Robert Brown said:

"Possession of a knife in public is already a serious crime for which people run the substantial risk of going to jail.

"However the appropriate sentence in individual cases is rightly in judges' hands.

"Taking away the discretion of judges, as Labour seek to do, is entirely the wrong way to go about eradicating the scourge of knife crime.

"Communities want to feel safe from knives, but short term prison sentences simply don't work as a deterrent. Indeed, it is widely recognised that many prisoners come out worse than they went in.

"It seems that Labour have completely forgotten their mantra to 'tackle the causes of crime'.

"It is also a curious oddity that Labour have had nearly 13 years in power in Westminster but they have not implemented any mandatory sentences there."