05. Feb. 2010. – 11:35:46
05. Feb. 2010. – 11:35:46
02. Feb. 2010. – 12:41:38
In February 2005 Magistrates' Courts lost
the power to deal with liquor licenses ie pubs, clubs, restaurants opening
hours, suitability of licensees etc. The power was given to local authorities
with Magistrates' Courts acting as Courts of Appeal.
Since then this government against most of
the advice it received proceeded to implement its plan to turn England &
Wales into the "cafe society" common on the continent where most
people including teenagers can drink in bars and restaurants almost around the
clock without the displays of drunken anarchy found on our streets from Andover
to Yarmouth and including most towns in between.
Since then all the disease trends amongst
heavy drinkers have escalated. Binge drinking, liver disease, drunkenness
associated with criminality have appeared to be on the increase.
The Magistrates' Court, a local institution
for 650 years, is being eroded. The result of removing its powers as described
above and allowing a single District Judge to officiate at trials and high
profile cases eg Pete Doherty last week, is a signal that our days might be
numbered.
Think about it.....if you were
on trial would you prefer three local people to decide your case and if proved
to sentence you or that a single Judge performing as judge and jury took over
both these functions?
30. Jan. 2010. – 14:53:07
29. Jan. 2010. – 16:53:46
It`s bit like waiting for a bus on a rainy
night; none comes for ages and then three at once. I suppose many jobs are
routine.....even a heart surgeon or a rocket scientist has a pathway to follow
in order to perform his task effectively and then there`s the one situation
when the format has to be radically changed for successful completion.
Looking through my 2009 diary before
consigning it in a drawer in case I might need an alibi sometime to prove my
innocence....can`t be too careful.......I was reminded of a day last April when
three matters came on one after the other.
The first was a drink driver having pleaded
guilty........not guilty is extremely rare.... had his counsel tell us in
confirmation after we had read reports from probation prior to sentence that he
would be unable to do unpaid work because he worked eight hours a day seven
days a week . Although this young chap stated that he earned £2,750 a month
after tax working in retail sales we thought this highly unusual and difficult
for us because his conviction fell right into the unpaid work category for punishment.
On questioning it was admitted he worked in the family business and earned
£3000 after tax. Needless to add his family business had to do without his
overtime services for the next six months.
The next chap, also drink driving, had an
alcohol level in breath of 191 ug in breath.....so high it`s off the scale. He
was told he was lucky to be alive and his prison sentence was suspended so he
could have treatment for alcoholism provided through the probation service.
Considering he was only 24 years old if he doesn`t stop now that level of
drinking will probably kill him sooner rather than later. I hope he`s not been
tempted to break his driving ban drunk or sober.
And finally a professional beggar with
previous who was disabled and had an alcohol problem arrested at a nearby
railway station where he had been frequently observed by colleagues on their
way to and from court and now charged with begging and harassing two women late
at night by threatening words. He couldn`t be imprisoned to protect the public...law
doesn`t allow it....couldn`t be fined......what would he do?....beg for the
fine money........so he was sent away with the "punishment" known as
a conditional discharge for six months. If he is convicted at any court in the
six months he`ll be back again for the original matter to be re considered.
Just an unusual April day in court.
26. Jan. 2010. – 14:31:54
Generally it has been considered in the
balance between "nature" and "nurture" that a baby even
with the most dreadful genetic origins if cared for by and within a loving
family can develop into an upright citizen. This position has been reinforced
by studies which show that a baby`s brain and the nervous connections within it
grow and take form for some years and even to the late teens the adult brain is
still approaching its final configuration. The Society of Jesus commonly known
as the Jesuits knew this centuries ago..."Give me the children until they
are seven and anyone may have them afterwards." St.Francis Xavier.
With the current case of the two children
in Edlington the option of removing the children from their home environment
has been and gone. But can this be the event which finally removes the social
services from the mantra that where possible it is preferred not to remove
children from their parent[s]. Perhaps the question should in future be changed
to "why should this child not be removed from a parent and placed
with family well vetted and approved for adoption".
As a family man and self admitted
libertarian it is difficult to accept that a child and society could? would?
benefit from such an authoritarian action but the disfunctionality in our
society, even if we don`t all agree with a certain Mr Cameron, has reached such
a level that the choice is now upon us.
25. Jan. 2010. – 14:47:25
Many thousands of pages have been written
about the situation when the "rock" of the freedom of publication of
news meets the "irresistible force" of the state`s duty of public
protection. Indeed the First Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S.A.
guarantees this freedom. It is a matter of perennial debate in this country and
every so often a case arises which hits the headlines.
This won`t hit the headlines but for those
who can remember South Africa before Nelson Mandela, when an apartheid
government governed often by decree, to read of a case where two journalists
have rejected demands to reveal full details of two people they interviewed
suspected of planning attacks against visitors to the World Cup a breath of
fresh air wafts through cyber space. The case against them at Johannesburg
Magistrate's Court was postponed today. The Police Minister said, "we have
a constitutional obligation, we think that freedom of expression in itself is
not absolute and it can't be absolute at the expense of safety and security in
the country."
Thirty years ago there were few non white
journalists working in South African TV. Thirty years ago any journalist daring
to criticise or refuse the government was a hero risking all. Would that
government here was moving along a path of improving openness. The Freedom of
Information Act is certainly of benefit to we ordinary citizens but only when
the temperature of enquiry doesn`t get heated.
Recently The Independent won a three year
battle to publish secret correspondence between Buckingham Palace and the
government concerning the cost of the monarchy. The Information Commissioner
gave the government 35 days to release letters sent during negotiations for an
increase in the civil list. It was reported a few weeks ago in the Daily Mail
that Gordon Brown plans to use his veto to block publication. Obviously the
temperature is getting too hot....Fahrenheit 451?
25 Jan. 2010. – 12:11:15
There are lies, damned lies and statistics.
This phrase of uncertain lineage has been around for over a century. It is even
more apposite now in the age of the spin doctor. Nowhere are spurious so called
facts and figures thrown at us more often than in the analysis of all that is
associated with criminal behaviour.
The latest figure to enter this debate is
Professor Marian Fitzgerald visiting professor of criminology at Kent Crime and
Justice Centre, University of Kent who states that There is little
connection between the use of stop and search powers by the Metropolitan
police and reductions in knife crime.
It is not my intention to dispute here what
the professor is assessing from the figures she has used but the effect
isolated analyses such as these have upon a largely innumerate population.
Conclusions such are reported mean
absolutely nothing without knowledge of the professor`s remit and sponsor,
without detailed information of those actually stopped and searched, their
previous criminal history, the consequences of the stop and search eg the
arrest rate, the number of cautions issued as a result, the charges [if any]
brought and the conviction rate and final sentence of those brought to court.
Perhaps some or all of these numbers missing are in the professor`s paper and
perhaps not. But the net result is purely political and will be another
misleading avenue down which our political parties will travel in the coming
four months in their attempts to convince us they are or are not doing all they
can in the matter of protecting the citizen and punishing the guilty.
22. Jan. 2010. – 16:27:20
22. Jan. 2010. – 15:52:24
22. Jan. 2010. – 13:41:24
In our country there are some who say that
all appointed officials whether they are school governors, members of the
various health service committees or indeed any advisory body or similar should
be representative of the society in which they live. For the rabble rouser that
is indeed a worthy slogan but it had most significance when it became the
rallying cry of the colonials in Boston in 1773..."no taxation without representation".
However in a truly free society it would be beyond the ridiculous if representative
became the major watchword in such appointments minimising ability. Such
reactions are currently fuelling debates on whether or not eg universities
should reduce entry standards for pupils from schools with relatively low
academic standards or higher than average numbers of children entitled to free
school dinners. With a limited number of places available every offer to such a
"deprived" pupil reduces the availability of a place to a "non
deprived" pupil with higher levels of achievement. Positive discrimination
in America has been criticised by many independently high achieving black
people but that is a controversial area where I will not go further.
But it is one of those proponents of Afro
American advancement, Al Sharpton, who officiated at a recent reception to
celebrate the appointment of 50 black magistrates. In this instance the term
"black" embraced various shades of brown as many of the new appointees
were of Asian origin. This was a final scene from an Operation Black Vote
shadowing scheme. A government minister told them they had successfully changed
the face of the magistracy. OBV director Simon Woolley said that the unique
partnership had radically changed the magistracy. He commented: ‘Martin Luther
King had a dream – and you are part of that dream. But he had more than a
dream; he had a plan".
It would seem that ideas and actions from
America are being imported and accepted into this country which has such a
different history with regard to race relations. Contact with foreigners of
whatever race has been endemic for a trading nation. Unlike America whose black
population was originally imported as slaves for the plantations of the
southern states and whose freedom was as a result of a civil war which killed
more Americans than WW1, WW2, Korea and Vietnam combined our citizens of Asian
and Afro Caribbean origin were either invited here to work or were welcomed as
refugees from the sub continent or East Africa. The truly racial hatred which
existed and to a degree still lurks under the surface in the USA existed here
only in the hearts of a small percentage of bigots. They are of course
unfortunately still around often to be discovered under a stone labelled BNP.
The National Black Police Association
states on its website:-
“The NBPA will work in the
interests of the UK police services and be an integral partner to ensure equitable service for all and for the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) staff who we represent.
We will also advocate the needs
and expectations of BME
communities by delivering and supporting strategies and
initiatives which have a positive impact on all”
How long will it be before what could be
described as a divisive action will be undertaken by those at the ceremony and
the hundreds if not thousands of current JPs who have performed and are
performing their duties as Magistrates, not black magistrates, not Asian
magistrates, not Muslim magistrates, not Hindu magistrates but simply magistrates.
It is unknown whether the various
Appointments Committees were in any way "directed" however obtusely
in this "Operation Black Vote". It is unknown whether any of the
successful candidates was appointed purely on merit or would have applied
without OBV. In my opinion the doubts raised by this process should be
answered.
During the celebrations Justice Minister
Bridget Prentice noted that a survey of magistrates found that 97% of JPs would
recommend it to a friend. Aside from the fact that the Magistracy cannot be
considered as one would consider a brand of margarine I would state that
neither I nor my local colleagues nor JP contributors to the Magistrates
Association private Forum seems to have heard of such a survey. Perhaps a
colleague with knowledge will comment.
Some would say " Appearance is
all". To that extent OBV has been a resounding success but at what cost?
21. Jan. 2010. – 12:01:21
21. Jan. 2010. – 11:17:54
19. Jan. 2010. – 12:42:26
The higher the public profile and the
greater the responsibility the more an individual has to jump the hurdles of
appropriate and honest behaviour. Indeed in an open society under the rule of
law many if not most people can reach those standards whatever their level of
wealth or education. When the scandal of M.P.`s allowances became public last
May most of us were more than just angry; we were dismayed that those in whom
we put our trust had betrayed us and that trust. That is why the penalties in
many professions eg teaching, law, medicine...up to and including prohibitions
on ever working in one`s profession ever again are in place.
In 2008 1,899 new magistrates were
appointed after a ruthless investigation into each applicant`s abilities and
background. In the last twelve months 17 magistrates were relieved of their
positions for behaviour including theft, misrepresentation, perjury, use of
racist language amongst other reasons. These raw figures seem to indicate that
considering the total number of JPs is around 30,000 the public can have
reasonable confidence that the people on the bench are an honest respectable
lot doing their best for society and taking no salary only real valid audited
expenses for their efforts
17. Jan. 2010. – 17:05:37
Much has been made of the supposed
caution given to "TV personality" Myleene Klass. Whether or not this
was a great big bit of tabloid journalism combined with Ms Klass`s PR company
is another matter. However in the case of police cautions it is not obligatory
for an individual to accept being cautioned. Having a caution against one`s
name is still a matter of public record and will be recorded on the Police
National Computer. For those in occupations where declaration of convictions is
required, and with the current increase in the numbers being vetted, such an
entry is almost equal to a lost job opportunity or worse still; a sacking.
My advice to those who consider a caution
is unjust is that it should be refused. Then it is up to the Crown Prosecution
Service to decide whether or not to prosecute. If that is decided the
individual will be required to attend court, plead not guilty and take his/her
chances at trial before a bench of three magistrates. You pays your money and
takes your choice!
17. Jan. 2010. – 17:05:37
11. Jan. 2010. – 13:21:49
"Not only must Justice be done; it
must also be seen to be done." This well known comment was made by Lord
Chief Justice Hewart in the first half of the last century. And with high
profile cases it seems that newspaper headlines, 24 hour TV news channels and
of course web sites eg Sky and BBC ensure that we know all about multiple
murderers sentenced to a whole life in prison, middle aged rapists incarcerated
until their testosterone levels are so low they cannot raise a smile let alone
anything else and of course the monsters prowling our streets whose diet
consists of children made of sugar and spice and all things nice. But what
about common or garden offending where it is estimated eg that one third of men
in this country will have appeared on the Police National Computer by the age
of thirty?
Fifty years ago crime reports from the
local Magistrates` Court accounted for a relatively high percentage of the
pages in local papers from Cumberland to Cornwall. Whether it was a five
shilling fine for spitting in the street or a bind over for being drunk and
disorderly a "minor" offender would know that his name and offence
would be known to his local community within a maximum of seven days. In a
period long before the prosperity and insularity of today "shame" in
the eyes of one`s friends and neighbours was a punishment in itself unlike 2010
when, especially amongst the young, offending is sometimes considered a
"badge of honour". Older folk, perhaps those over thirty with clean
records, are not so sanguine about their misdemeanours being made public. Would
that it were so.
A colleague who sits in an outer London
borough commented recently that in over ten years on the bench she had seen
reporters taking notes in her courtroom once only and that was a high profile
first appearance of a man facing a murder charge. It is still possible to find
local papers outside London reporting the every day goings on at the local
Magistrates` Court with names, addresses, conviction details etc published in
full in print and on line. This failure in general for offenders to be named
and shamed in their own communities devalues the ideals expressed so succinctly
by the late Lord Chief Justice and diminishes one of the three purposes of a
criminal justice system ie deterrence because if the conviction is known only
to the CJS and the offender there is nobody else in particular who will be
deterred in a similar way to that of the effects of cigarette smoking.......all
the advertisements and government and medical advice pales into insignificance
if somebody close to you, a smoker, dies from the disease.
Perhaps young unemployed aspiring
journalists might find it worthwhile to send in court reports "on
spec" to the editor of their local newspaper if this local news source is
currently being ignored.
09. Jan. 2010. – 12:12:24
08. Jan. 2010. – 14:30:02
06. Jan. 2010. – 14:49:22
Some years ago sitting in a court room of a
small town in America`s Deep South I witnessed two chained up miscreants
wearing County Jail overalls each making what appeared to be a desperate phone
call. With a look of disbelief on their faces after a few words from the judge
which didn`t reach the back of the courtroom where I was seated they were led
away by a Sheriff`s Deputy complete with Stetson and six gun. Dressed as I was
in a Brit`s uniform for a hot climate, tee shirt and shorts and carrying a bag
of recently purchased goodies, the judge beckoned me to approach the bench and
identify myself. His manner did not allow for any delay in responding to his
command. After explaining who and what I was we had an interesting discussion
on the similarities and differences between a state county court and an English
magistrates` court. When I enquired about the two jailbirds and their phone
calls he explained that for the past year the court had been trying to get them
to pay fines for minor traffic offences but without success. Since even their
final phone calls were of no avail he had sentenced them to serve a day for
every dollar unpaid in the county jail.
What a breath of fresh air when compared to
this country where even for the index crime defendants serve half only of the
custodial term given by the courts. And when it comes to unpaid fines it is
very very rarely that custody is the outcome.
Fines are levied according to means within
the limits laid down by parliament. Before a fine is imposed in any English
court the defendant must declare honestly his income and outgoings on Form
MC100. Virtually never is any proof required of what are generally IMHO
inaccurate figures. Now when it comes to statistics and conclusions there are
as many answers as questions but two figures will suffice for now. At the end
of March 2007 there were outstanding fines of £486,597,240 and a year later the
figure was £500,630,569. It would be churlish to suggest that everyone fined
can afford to pay the full amount on the spot as the law states but half a
billion £ owed......!
Many criminologists agree that high level
offenders don`t appear from nowhere. They usually begin their careers with low
level offending which results in fines. If they play with the system at that
stage their respect for law and order is diminished by "getting away with
it". By its very nature minor criminality is associated with people on
benefits. And of course I am not suggesting that those on benefits are likely
to commit crime. But for those that do I believe that it is iniquitous that
they continue to receive their benefits in full. There is provision in law for
fines to be deducted from earnings or benefits but that is a different issue. I
would suggest that after due calculation of seriousness there should be
reduction in benefit per se after eg three categorised offences. Those on
benefits should not bite the hand that feeds them.
03. Jan. 2010. – 15:53:15
It seems to this observer that the
government with grand owl Gordon on the top branch has made himself more of a
twit than a toowitt tawooooo. He has decided to raise a few million measly quid
by increasing the numbers of non criminals who will now be subject to the
Victim Surcharge of £15 previously applied only to those fined after conviction
at court. These "criminals" will be eg those given Fixed Penalty Notices
for parking violations, speeding, having a tyre in poor condition etc.
Certainly these offences are against the law and sometimes cause danger to
other road users but in general terms the offenders cannot be labelled
"criminals". The name Victim Surcharge itself is a deceit. Money
raised does not go directly to "victims" as some would have us
believe. It funds "services for victims". The money raised £3.8
million in 2007-08, the year of introduction, and £8 million in 2008-09
was much less than 50% of expected receipts. In EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM TO THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 2003 (SURCHARGE) ORDER 2007 No. 707 it is written,
"7.13 Once fully operational, it is estimated that levying the surcharge
on fines or a combination of a fine and compensation order (in either case with
or without costs) in this way will generate some £16m a year (net of the
costs of collection). If the number of fines increases or decreases, the
surcharge raised will be correspondingly more or less. Similarly, if the
success of enforcement increases or decreases, the surcharge raised will be
more or less. The surcharge income will be allocated to the Home Office, the
Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Office of the Attorney General to
fund more and better services for victims of crime and witnesses.
So this government once again couldn't`t get
its sums right for the simple reason that the great civil service brains who
did the arithmetic did not realise that more than half of all fines imposed do
not get paid and many others are remitted ie written off. But that`s just a
sideshow when considering the principle. Motorists are being taxed on their
mistake; pure and simple.
This is not something hastily brought in to
add to depleted Treasury funds. It was clearly set out in the original
discussion papers. Only then G.Brown and Co did not think they would be
fighting for their ministerial lives. What chance of their re-election when
this totally outrageous tax is sneaked in disguised as help for victims.?
To answer the question posed in my previous
post the lowest age to be a magistrate is 18.
24. Dec. 2009. – 12:48:23