John Reid
John Reid entered the Home Office last May speaking as if he was Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry. He said the Home Office was ‘not fit for purpose’ and that he was the man to clean it up. Yet all we see is the same old incompetence. The days when John Reid could lay everything at the door of Charles Clarke have long since run out. Quite simply he is responsible and if anyone’s head should roll it should be his.
Earlier in the week Reid said that due to overcrowding judges should only jail dangerous and persistent offenders. A few days later we see the result - Judge John Rogers QC, acting on the Home Secretary’s advice, gave Derek Williams a suspended sentence for downloading child pornography. Even Mr Williams was surprised by the leniency of the sentence stating he ‘was lucky to be out’! When convicted criminals start questioning why they are not being locked up the Home Office really has hit rock bottom.
One of the few people to be talking any sense on this matter is David Davis. David has said that protecting the public is the most important issue. I couldn’t agree more. It is ridiculous that sentences are being decided by prison capacity and not the offence committed. If prisons are full then the Home Office should be looking at viable solutions such as opening up Army prison camps or prison ships. If people are a threat to the British public then they must be taken out of circulation. No excuses.
Posted in The Home Office on 26 January 2007 by David Ruffley
Comments
You're absolutely correct in your blog, the situation is shambolic and it is disgusting that the Home Office is letting convicted criminals have leaner sentences merely because the jails are full. This government has seen a shocking increase in crime under its leadership; surely it is their responsibility to make sure that the system can cope with this increase instead of placing us all at risk by turning a blind eye.
Posted 26 January 2007 by Edward
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