Will you be voting!? I don't think anyone cares! It's just another way for politicians to have control

We've got a candidate who has declared that she is standing to keep the politicians out of control of the police. She'll get my vote.

We don't need a commissioner, we just need judges to grow a pair and hand down the harshest sentences possible for everything.

And politicians to double the sentences for each crime. And stop the stupid rules to stop people getting away with murder, literally, as with the case this week with the 2 girls that have been found (can't remember names). Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

No objection against an elected PC but wholeheartedly oppose it being party political hence I will not vote. In my mind how can a commissioner represent the views of the community if he/she has to follow party politics on everything? I would have preferred that anyone who was a member of a political party be excluded from standing.

Big Dave wrote:

We don't need a commissioner, we just need judges to grow a pair and hand down the harshest sentences possible for everything.

And politicians to double the sentences for each crime. And stop the stupid rules to stop people getting away with murder, literally, as with the case this week with the 2 girls that have been found (can't remember names).

I used to take that view before studying law but that's where believing the press gets you. Yes there are some crazy sentences handed out sometimes but the press on the whole will push those and forget to mention the sentences which are tougher.

Judges have to work within sentencing guidelines handed down by Parliament so their hands are tied to a degree and there many factors for consideration when sentencing. The character of the accused, the public interest, mitigating circumstances such as provocation or remorse and let's not forget that some cases are granted leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court beyond that so a sentence too harsh could be overruled but then a sentence too soft could be overruled.

There are no 'rules' that allow people to get away with murder, just legislation surrounding admissibility of evidence which can mean a good defence barrister could try to have evidence made inadmissible against their client and could lead to acquittal but then the crown should be ready for it. On the whole we do have an excellent judicial system and the Criminal Justice Act 2003 made it much easier for the crown to introduce bad character evidence which it could be argued increases the chances of a jury convicting because previous convictions could demonstrate a propensity to commit any given offence.

The Human Rights Act is not the big bad law that the press would have us believe either. All it did was make it possible to enforce human rights in the British courts as we had signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights in the 50's and pre HRA 1998, you could still enforce HR but had to appeal to Europe. R v Horncastle [2009] UKSC 14 showed that where the wording of the legislation is clear and unambiguous, HR arguments can be defeated.

I am afraid the press don't tell the whole story, only what will provoke debate and perhaps outrage so don't get too wound up about what you read in the papers or see and hear on the news  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Double the sentences? Do you know how much it costs to keep people in gaol? If you can find a way to rehabilitate them it saves on all our taxes, and they are less likely to do it again afterwards. We've already got more people banged up than any other European country, but it doesn't seem to solve the crime problem.
No I won't be voting, because I live in London and we're not allowed to vote, but even if you don't approve it's worth voting for one of the more sensible ones just to stop one of the loonies getting in.

Doubling sentences...in fairness I meant, but didn't put this across, as non custodial. Fines, community service etc. I agree prisoners cost too much, prisons should be made much more 'prison' like.

The press do slant things, and yes only the ridiculously light sentences ever come to light. The serial robber who got off going to prison because the judge said he had 'courage' for example, having a murder charge dropped because you admit to it before you have a lawyer present. Hardly fair on the law abiding. And these are just recent examples. Politicians need to sort it out Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

This is getting off the point. The question was, are you going to vote? I firmly believe that everyone should vote on every occasion they get to elect anyone into public office of any sort.

There are many people who put themselves forward for office for purely selfish or party political reasons. The only way to keep them out and make sure that a representative selection is made is to get the largest possible vote out. Apathy encourages the ruling class to believe that the "plebs" don't care and reinforces their sense of entitlement. Many thousands of lives worldwide have been given to allow democracy to take root. It's everyone's public duty to vote.

OK, it's your right not to vote. But I think it's your responsibility to vote. We hear far too much about rights these days and far too little about responsibilities. Get off your butt and do it!

Just think - if you live in Hull and don't vote you'll probably get John Prescott  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

Quote:

Just think - if you live in Hull and don't vote you'll probably get John Prescott

Probably the first positive result Prescott's had since Cunard sacked him as a steward  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