http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/cond.htm

Book of condolence.... 08 Santorini black HST.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-22...-hero.html

The scumbag who started this Facebook page and everyone who posts comments in favour should be identified and prosecuted - it is time zero tolerance was brought in and used

Our nanny state is encouraging more of this disgusting behaviour - I can't believe some of the readers comments I read on orange and yahoo news articles

Makes me ashamed to live in a so called civilised society  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

muddywheels wrote:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2205209/Dale-Cregan-OBE-Vile-Facebook-page-set-tribute-fugitive-arrested-police-women-killed-chief-constable-blasts-hold-folk-hero.html

The scumbag who started this Facebook page and everyone who posts comments in favour should be identified and prosecuted - it is time zero tolerance was brought in and used

Our nanny state is encouraging more of this disgusting behaviour - I can't believe some of the readers comments I read on orange and yahoo news articles

Makes me ashamed to live in a so called civilised society

Second Arrest so not just one crazy person involved it would appear http://www.bbc.co.uk...hester-19653240

I have read that the father of the first victim appears to have been killed after calling his sons killers cowards and now they killed these two innocent policewomen - all this talk of gcse overhaul is a joke - perhaps schools need to teach right and wrong first before society implodes on itself  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

Right and wrong in schools is a whole different kettle of fish...http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-22...e-him.html Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

The example you give is exactly why we have the problems now

It starts with kids getting away with it and then they grow up and have kids who are worse - its probably too late but it should have been dealt with  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

More pond life http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-19911943  Wanted a Series 2 LR since childhood but previously owned MY16 Disco Sport HSE TD4 Auto, MY13 RR Sport Black Edition TDV6 Auto, MY10 RR Sport HSE TDV6 Auto, 2007 Freelander 1 Freestyle TD4 Soft Top, 2009 Freelander 2 GS TD4 Auto, 2007 Freelander 2 GS TD4, 2004 Disco 2 Metropolis Auto, 2002 Disco 2 GS, 2000 Freelander 1 SE TD4 SW

Still hoping for a S2 one day!

I wholeheartedly agree about stiffer (and more imaginative) sentences for any violent offenders BUT I think things are getting completely out of hand over spoken or written insults. Stating your opinion, however upsetting or obscene others find it, should be everyone's right in a free society. Comments on Twitter (if ever anything was well named, that's it ) or facebook should be subject only to the existing laws of libel.

Otherwise things get ridiculous - the recent well-publicised incidents of footballers and politicians are good examples. The LEAST offensive word in John Terry's ignorant foul-mouthed rant was "black" and the least offensive in the politician/policeman altercation was "pleb" and yet they are the words latched on to. Foul and abusive language seems to be OK these days, especially on TV and in films.

Old ideas are still true - "actions speak louder than words", "sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." No-one needs to look at Twitter or Facebook and anyone who posts or believes anything on either is, at least, a Twit. Ours - 2008 Stornoway Grey HSE Auto
Tricia's - 2006 Royal Blue Beetle Cabriolet Auto
Mine - 2014 Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport Matt Black
Ours - 2007 White Bailey Pageant Champagne

rjc1944. There are limitations on free speech and of course a debate as to where to draw the line could go on forever but there are instances such as the chap with the t-shirt which must not be tolerated. The European Convention on Human Rights provides as follows in Article 10:

1: Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. this right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. This article shall not prevent States from requiring the licensing of broadcasting, television or cinema enterprises.

This is however a qualified right as opposed to an absolute right and thus:

2: The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or the rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary

I disagree with you entirely both in a moral sense and in a legal sense. Indeed, the purpose of criminal law is to censure wrongdoing and the guy with the t-shirt committed a clear offence that overstepped any freedom of speech claims and was rightly punished.

Further to this, you mentioned libel. The tort of defamation can be summarised as follows (this off the top of my head - Winfield on tort I seem to recall):

A defamation is the publication of a statement that reflects upon a persons reputation and tends to lower him in the estimation of a right thinking member of society generally or makes that person shun or avoid him.

I can tell you that abusive comments have no place in the law of defamation. The authority is Thorley v Kerry (1812) 128 E.R. 367 where Sir James Mansfield stated that "But for mere general abuse spoken, no action lies"

Thankfully, there will never be an absolute right to free speech and rightly so. Those who preach otherwise would not be so quick to do so if they were on the receiving end of such abusive remarks made about a deceased member of their family. In my opinion, a person who says they would still support that view in the said circumstances, is keeping up a pretence to save face.

I have studied tort law and human rights and criminal law and I can say wholeheartedly that the English Legal System, however flawed many may argue it to be in any given area, is absolutely correct in legislating against such morally reprehensible behaviour that causes great distress and upset to others and it is nice to see an example being made of such criminals. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Hi Doc, thanks for the well-reasoned response.

I have to accept that your knowledge is greater than mine here. However, I still find it ludicrous that we can have a legal system that jails someone for wearing a tee-shirt and gives out slapped wrists for burglary, car theft, drunkenness, other drug abuse and violence on sports fields. Giving offence seems somehow to be treated more severely than actual physical damage to person or property. Can't be right, surely?

Mind you, the guy with the tee-shirt was easy to identify and catch so the police didn't have to do any work. Maybe that's it. Ours - 2008 Stornoway Grey HSE Auto
Tricia's - 2006 Royal Blue Beetle Cabriolet Auto
Mine - 2014 Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport Matt Black
Ours - 2007 White Bailey Pageant Champagne

Sentencing is not a subject I have studied specifically but there are many many factors which the public and bad news hungry media aren't privy to.

The character of the accused and the public interest are key elements and the public interest would have been a massive factor in the t-shirt offender case. Severity of injuries in assault cases can come into play and also provocation of the offender etc. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey