Railway exhibition destroyed

[platelayer]

A follow up news story on the wrecked model railway exhibition.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... ition.html

[Steve M]

No deterrent really. Inappropriate sentencing is the scourge of this country.

Another example: an unemployed drug addict head butted a local shopkeeper and got a fine (can’t pay), and a community service order. I reckon he’s really scared by that.

[platelayer]

I agree with you there 100%, if that is the worst that can happen to them, they will carry on!. Even the fine was no punishment for them, there parents were made to pay.

[Rog (RJ)]

If their parents are anything like mine were, the kids will be paying for it for a very long time in one way or another.

[Postman Prat]

If that had been my dad I would still have been paying today. Bit heavy handed really - after all, I'm only 71!

[Mallard53]

Just as expected from today's spineless legal system. No doubt they trotted out all the usual excuses and the pathetic judge fell for it. It's high time that corporal punishment was reintroduced (along with capital punishment for the more serious crimes highlighted in the media of recent days). It's also hightime tough national service was reintroduced with no exceptions/excuses.

[Tricky Dicky]

Just as expected from today's spineless legal system. No doubt they trotted out all the usual excuses and the pathetic judge fell for it. It's high time that corporal punishment was reintroduced (along with capital punishment for the more serious crimes highlighted in the media of recent days). It's also hightime tough national service was reintroduced with no exceptions/excuses.

I cannot condone capital or corporal punishment but think it is appropriate that the parents get to pay the fine after all what were these boys doing out at 4:00am in the morning allegedly celebrating the start of exams - they should have been home revising. I believe that when a crime is committed someone is responsible and if a child is deemed below the age of criminal responsibility then the person responsible for that child should be held to account.

Too many feckless parents are not bothered about the anti social behaviour of their offspring because it does not affect them. At one time you would be shamed but it seems these days it does not matter some even see it as a badge of honour. So fining the parents is right as it directly impacts on them and hopefully encourages them to exercise their parental responsibilities. As for the level of fines if they are going to work then they have to hurt the pocket in order to make the point.

Richard

[teedoubleudee]

Though I agree with everything Richard says above, I don't understand why some form of a term of community service could not have been given in addition to the fines. The perpetrators are old enough to perform useful physical tasks in and around their neighborhood and give them time to reflect on their stupidity.

[Steve M]

I’d cut their goolies off.

[Ron S]

While I deplore what happened to the Exhibits and I don't know what age criminal responsibility starts in the UK, in Australia it is around 12 and 16 years old in South Australia can apply for the learners Drivers Licence.

Now the comment about parent responsibilities, yes, some do fail that part of life but how many ofus know where our children actually are when we are fast asleep ? They went to bed before us but could quite easily get up & go out after we have got to bed and be back before we get up !.

The legal system is fraught with inconsistencies and the punishment handed down in this case seems unusual to me in that if the magistrate in charge of the case cannot impose a stiffer penalty to the15-16 year olds, then why not push it further up the line? A LOT of community service would not go astray.