Send career criminals to prison where they belong
WHAT is prison for? Most people would agree that it is there for two reasons: to punish and to rehabilitate.
Some criminals are receiving up to 10 suspended sentences before going to prison
But that second aspect, attempting to turn people from offenders into respectable citizens, becomes laughable when it emerges that a person has to be a hardened career criminal to get to prison in the first place.
The news that criminals are receiving up to 10 suspended sentences before they are finally locked up makes the system little more than a joke.
What kind of message does it send out, especially to younger offenders who, if they are stopped at an early stage might be persuaded to look elsewhere than at a life of crime?
If a potential offender is almost certain that he or she will not end up behind bars, then where is the deterrent to stop them from going ahead?
For years now the majority of people have suspected that criminals are treated far too leniently and most will now be rightly appalled to learn that just punishment is not being meted out.
Long ago we seemed to embrace a system that worried more about the offender than the victim and this is just the latest manifestation of that.
There is at the moment a sharp disconnect between the public and the political class and if that is not mended the system risks permanent damage.
It is up to our political class to make it clear to the crown courts that justice must be done.
EU law now means that prisoners can have a wedding party with guests and a buffet while locked up
Yet another EU stupidity
If the above offenders ever actually get to prison, of course, what a life of Riley awaits.
European laws have ensured that anyone wishing to get married or have a civil partnership behind bars may be entitled to a party with 12 guests, a buffet, flowers and even fireworks (not a facet of that many weddings out in the real world) all detailed in a handy new 24-page guide developed to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.
If ever there was anything that demonstrated quite how right we are to leave the EU it is this fatuous waste of money and complete lack of common sense.
Sometimes it seems as if EU commissioners are laughing at the people they force these rules upon: it certainly shows complete contempt for what most people think.
This rotten, foolish guide should be binned now.
Andy Murray lifts the Wimbledon trophy for the second time
The superb Andy Murray
You wait decades for a Brit to win Wimbledon and then along comes Andy Murray who manages it twice in short order. Very many congratulations, Andy. You’ve done your country proud.