The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Are ‘guardians of the law’ in the wrong job?
Sir, – The expression “soft justice” is being quoted more often every day in connection with criminal offenders who pose a threat to the safety of our law-abiding public.
There is no such thing as “soft justice”.
The two words are incompatible and contradictory.
It is simply “justice” or “injustice”.
Are we employing the wrong type of people to act as guardians of the law and protectors of our safety?
Our so-called “guardians of the law” are continually failing to protect the public who they are paid to serve.
The attitude of some are typified by a headline article several months ago where a Community Payback Team Manager referred to convicted drug offenders under his charge as “clients”!
If he cannot tell the difference he is obviously in the wrong job!
If he is still unsure of the difference between clients and convicted offenders, I suggest he buys an Oxford dictionary.
Can I assume therefore that any business client is in reality a convicted drug offender?
A recent newspaper article involving a person in charge of a vehicle while in a drunken stupor was allowed to keep her driving licence when she claimed she was on her way to an AA meeting!
I have a lot of sympathy for people in this situation, but what happened to the first priority of protection of the public?
There are still many cases where people have committed further offences while on parole.
Ed Cook. Kirklands Park, Cupar.