The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

‘Soft touch’ justice on putting green

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Avideo of convicted offenders enjoying a game of golf in Aberfeldy during a break in their community service work is a slap in the face for the victims of their crimes.

When imposing a community payback order, sheriffs are always at pains to stress the disposal is a direct alternativ­e to a prison sentence.

With cell space in Scotland’s jails at a premium, such disposals are increasing­ly common in courts.

The authoritie­s place emphasis on ensuring offenders are playing a useful part in society and being offered the chance of rehabilita­tion outside the confines of prison.

In this instance, the work the offenders were doing was benefittin­g the community but a rule about not having mobile phones with them had been broken.

The larking about on the putting green may have been sanctioned by the work party supervisor but it flies in the face of community service being seen as a serious punishment and an alternativ­e to custody.

For many people, the images will simply serve to reinforce a perception that this kind of sentence is at the heart of a “soft touch” justice system.

If an alternativ­e to prison is to be the favoured option when sentencing, it must still come with the requisite element of punishment and those supervisin­g the work must be mindful that impression­s really do count when it comes to administer­ing justice.

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