These lengthy prison sentences for rioters

I’d want to know more facts before commenting winterwhite. I found this from two days ago, I can’t see anything more recent. Only three young men have been referred to young offenders institutions, and few of the rest of the cases referred to crown court are in the first flush of youth.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm23y7l01v8o
If the published information that 70% of those arrested is correct still, my sympathy is limited. Involvement will result in cautions on peoples files, and they will all have a criminal record, which is surely right, whatever their age?

Many of the rioters actually arrested already, had previous form, I don’t think community service is appropriate for those who broke into a hotel and attempted to burn it down, or those who attacked police or set cars on fire.

The other thing is the longest sentence I’ve seen is 3 years, which in reality will be 18 months. I have little empathy for them at all, most of them were thugs commuting acts of aggression and criminal damage.

Good job they didn't try to disrupt a bit of traffic. They would have got longer.

*committing grrrrrr

I agree, Cossy.

Some of those sentenced have a string of previous convictions and for some of them this seems more like a slap on the wrist.

David Olusoga wrote today that the rioters are simply racists. There is zero excuse for what they did.

Am inclined to agree.

Cossy

Many of the rioters actually arrested already, had previous form, I don’t think community service is appropriate for those who broke into a hotel and attempted to burn it down, or those who attacked police or set cars on fire.

Agreed.

winterwhite I agree that prisons should have rehabilitate elements, but what you say applies to so many prisoners ie their future/family's future. These are violent offences.

BBC "What sentences have people received? Of those already sentenced, most have been sent to prison. The average prison sentence length was just under two years, but some cases have involved community orders or younger people being sent to young offender institutions."

Here are the very relevant details from the BBC website I cited above, gives the stats in easy to read format:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm23y7l01v8o#:~:text=What%20sentences%20have%20people%20received,sent%20to%20young%20offender%20institutions.

Convictions of particular interest (given the circumstances) are the online offences "There were also 10 people charged with offences involving social media or other online activity."

I’m afraid they have no sympathy from me - they knew full well what they were doing, a lot of them have previous, and they have to face the consequence of their actions whether they have previous or not. I really believe that most of them thought they would get a slap on the wrist, if apprehended at all. I’m sick and tired of this frequently being the case, and happy that this hasn’t been the case this time. They have caused damage, fear and cost many people their livelihood over the period of violence as they’ve had to shut up shop.
So, some have families, and there are concerns that they will suffer as a result, but actually, these miscreants should have thought of that before they went on the rampage, inflicting terror on innocent people. I’m sorry for their relatives, but not for them.

Meanwhile, many of the men will have families / young children who could fall into poverty, and how will the men themselves find work when they are released.

They might lose their jobs too if they ever had one.

Meantime, many businesses have had their premises destroyed, along with community facilities.

I have no sympathy.

There are rehabilitation schemes for ex-prisoners.

wether it does them good or not is neither here nor there, It's to make others think twice if there is a next time and good job too

lemsip

wether it does them good or not is neither here nor there, It's to make others think twice if there is a next time and good job too

👍

I approve the sentencing for reasons people have outlined above. I think it sends a message that we can't have this disruptive and malicious behaviour on the streets or on-line. It is time people learned to shut their dirty racist mouths and stop posting false and spurious info on-line.

Prisoners need much more education and rehabilitation. The time inside needs to be used constructively

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

lemsip

wether it does them good or not is neither here nor there, It's to make others think twice if there is a next time and good job too

Agreed.

Whitewavemark2

David Olusoga wrote today that the rioters are simply racists. There is zero excuse for what they did.

Am inclined to agree.

Everybody in the world is racist according to him.

Well that suggestion didn’t land well. And it seems that there are fewer long sentences than I thought.

I read the David Olusoga piece and agree re racism. I certainly wasn’t making excuses for what happened.
But I think what happens next is important. And I think that in principle community service, or payback, would be more appropriate than custody and could be made to be equally hard going, not a soft option. It would take time to identify and set up worthwhile schemes of course esp in areas where there are numerous offenders so yes custody initially.

Someone on another forum was saying pushing a dustbin at a policeman shouldn’t warrant a three year sentence. But I read today that the woman was screaming racist obscenities at the policemen.

Primrose53

Whitewavemark2

David Olusoga wrote today that the rioters are simply racists. There is zero excuse for what they did.

Am inclined to agree.

Everybody in the world is racist according to him.

Does that include himself?

Callistemon213

lemsip

wether it does them good or not is neither here nor there, It's to make others think twice if there is a next time and good job too

👍

👍👍

For fans of nested quotes. I was going to write 'this', but there's enough trouble in the world .

lemsip

wether it does them good or not is neither here nor there, It's to make others think twice if there is a next time and good job too

Agreed.
Absolutely no sympathy from me.
Designed as a deterrent which looks to be working.

MayBee70

Someone on another forum was saying pushing a dustbin at a policeman shouldn’t warrant a three year sentence. But I read today that the woman was screaming racist obscenities at the policemen.

She was recorded on a camera doing it, you could hear her, so it was a fair cop. That’s the level of evidence that’s been used for most of the rioters, so they can’t escape what they did. I saw one guy said he had ‘found some knuckle dusters’ - as you do.