Wednesday, 3 February 2010

Police pursuit plan !

Once again we experience the combination of knee jerk reaction and politics when it comes to problem solving.

There is no doubt that police pursuing fugitives trying to escape in cars is a prime source of danger to other road users - and recently a child tragically died when one of these chases went wrong.

From the politicians comes a predictable solution - increase the penalty for this offence and make it subject to a five year gaol term.

It looks good in the paper and no doubt a lot of readers will give a sigh of relief, but actually seeing someone put behind bars will be another matter.

We already have maximum penalties for a huge number of crimes, but rarely - if ever - do we see this maximum penalty applied, and once again it is that combination of knee jerk reaction and politics that comes into play.

Our prisons are full to overflowing and magistrates are under pressure to ease this by moderating sentences - and it angers voters if the courts are seen to be too authoritarian.

No doubt some hoon will be made an example of to satisfy the public that the new law is working, but in reality judicial discretion will apply and running from the cops will not automatically mean a spell behind bars.

And once again " harsh sentencing " will disappear in that opaque realm of " smoke and mirrors ! "

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