The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Drugs and the justice system
The most hideous crime in our society is supplying drugs of any type from lighter versions of cannabis to most dangerous heroin. It destroys families, particularly our young children.
Society as a whole must take positive action against such criminals and report to the police any such activities in their areas. It is not long ago worshipers at the Faizan e Madinah Mosque reported such people operating in the central area of the city to the authorities and several of them were arrested and sent to prison.
Sadly the network of these people is stronger than perhaps the authorities and they are busy as usual in their activities. The usual excuse of the constabulary is lack of resources , but on the other hand when such people are brought to justice, the sentences handed over to these people is nothing but a joke.
In last week’s Peterborough Telegraph (August 16) there were details about “two drug dealers who turned a Pe- terborough neighbourhood into a drug enclave” and selling heroin, one of them coming from Wolverhampton on regular basis to Peterborough and other one was also carrying 10 inch Rambo style knife and a lock knife and carrying more than £2000 cash. One of them had several previous convictions. One was sentenced to 3 years 9 months and other 3 years imprisonment.
They will be out within 18/19 months to carry on their usual activities.
Judges have guideline of sentences and I believe that 3 years sentence is the bare minimum. Just carrying a knife itself is more punishable than the combined sentence given to these drug dealers. No wonder our streets are never clear from such criminals.
It is about time the judges looked into their sentencing powers and do justice for the communities.
What is stopping them putting such drug dealers behind bars for say 10 years, which is still much less than the death sentence given to drug dealers in certain countries. If the judges do not have that sentencing power then Parliament should amend the law.
Abdul M Choudhuri Chairman Faizan e Madinah Mosque