Judges have a duty to jail repeat offenders

RESPECT for the rule of law is one of the great principles that underpin a democratic and stable society. It has been one of the reasons Britain has for centuries been one of the most successful countries in the world, because we have not been riddled with corruption and criminality in the way other nations have.

The beauty of the rule of law is that it should apply to the powerful and the weak equally – nobody is above it. But for this to be respected then society must be sure that those who commit offences meet justice and that law-abiding citizens are protected.

Today’s revelations carried by this newspaper that repeat criminals are escaping justice and not being sent to prison is deeply disturbing.

As our streets have been taken over by criminal gangs and dozens of lives have been lost to knife crime we should all be shocked that one offender was given a non-custodial community penalty for possession of a blade or other sharp implement, despite 30 previous convictions or cautions for the same offence.

This is of course one example, but the figures show that judges are handing out fewer custodial sentences than before.

Clearly the system is failing us and not protecting law-abiding people.

Perhaps Shipley MP Philip Davies is right to say that too many liberal judges are deliberately avoiding handing out prison sentences. But whatever the motivation, it will feed a loss of confidence in the justice system.

It is true that around 80,000 people are in prison in this country, but if we need to lock more up then perhaps new prisons need to be built. A belief that criminals can get away with it and that people are not safe can lead us down a dangerous path.

The courts have to remember their duty to wider society, not just the “human rights” of criminals.