Law -
Justice
Lawyers and probation
officers rounded on the Metropolitan police
commissioner, Sir John Stevens, after he claimed
that Britain's "appalling" criminal
justice system contributed to a rise in violent
crime. Britain's most senior police officer
claimed in a speech at Leicester University that
criminals were in effect above the law, while
judges, defence lawyers and court administrators
rode roughshod over the rights of terrified
victims and intimidated witnesses. He told
students that it was not uncommon for muggers to
be released on bail eight or nine times for
separate offences before facing trial for their
first attack.
Far from reducing robberies, rapes and violent
attacks, Sir John claimed that the criminal
justice system provided a shield for criminals
and let the guilty walk free. "All too
often, the criminal trial is simply an uneven
game of tactics played out by lawyers in front on
an uninformed jury with the disillusioned victims
and bemused defendant looking on. The public are
more than disenchanted with criminal justice in
this country - they are fed up with it. The
process actually encourages criminals in the
belief that crime is merely a game of no
consequence to society, local communities or
their victims so they are not held to account. So
we see robbers with strings of previous
convictions, strutting across the estates of
inner London, having won their most recent game
in court - arrogant, untouchable, fearless and
ready for anything."
The commissioner has attacked the "criminal
justice game" several times in recent weeks
mostly in response to criticism from the home
secretary, David Blunkett, over the failure of
the police to get to grips with the rise in
street robbery and in response to demands for
police reform. Harry Fletcher of the National
Association of Probation Officers claimed the
commissioner was wrong to claim that fewer
violent criminals were being sent to prison.
"Since 1993 the crown courts have jailed an
increasing number of people, up from 49% of those
found guilty to 63%. So we're jailing more people
than ever before."
The Law Society and the Bar Council also
criticised Sir John saying that a civilised
society demanded that criminal convictions were
proved beyond reasonable doubt. "That is not
a game. It is a fundamental principle of a modern
society," said a Bar Council spokesman.
A
10-year-old boy appeared before magistrates to
admit his part in a £20,000 vandalism spree at a
school. The youngster and two 11-year-old boys
left a trail of destruction after breaking into
Stowmarket Middle School in Stowmarket, Suffolk.
All three admitted causing criminal damage. The
parents of the 10-year-old and one of the
11-year-olds were each ordered to pay £800
compensation. Both boys were given six-month
referral orders under which their behaviour will
be monitored by youth offending officers. The
other 11-year-old pleaded guilty at an earlier
hearing and was given the same punishment.
One of the 11-year-olds who appeared in court
told magistrates, "I thought it would be fun
and we wouldn't get caught." He added:
"It was fun but then it got out of
hand." The youngster apologised to his
father, who sat with him in court, and
magistrates were told that his pocket money had
been stopped. Magistrate Graham Higgins told the
boy, "It is a lot of money your dad is going
to have to pay on your behalf. You think what you
get for Christmas. How many Christmases you are
looking at. I would like you to think about that.
And think of the other people who are all missing
out because of your 'fun'."
The 10-year-old boy, who appeared with his
mother, spoke only to confirm his personal
details. Magistrates ordered his parents to pay
£800 compensation.
Police said the child and two 11-year-old boys
left "a scene of total devastation" at
the school. Excrement was spread, instruments
were wrecked, carpets were flooded and computers
damaged after the youngsters broke-in using a bar
to smash a window. Stowmarket Middle School had
to shut for two days while staff and volunteers
cleared the mess.
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