Huntley and comeuppance

Police officers have seen their pay stagnate for far too long and it’s bad for morale, maybe the same for prison officers too.
There’s also too many inexperienced prison staff due to cutting of jobs in the past.

Yes Dickens, the job adverts only give the positives.

The people who live in Soham won’t care two hoots whatever happens to Huntley and it’s you saying that people lack a moral compass if they condone violence between two violent men in prison, not me.

I do not condone violence in any situation except as defence against attack. I certainly do not condone violence between 2 violent people. Two wrongs have never made a right - and they never will.

My comment wasn’t to you Monica and you’re as entitled to your opinion as I am to mine.

The people of Soham have endured a shocking tragedy, and that will affect how they feel about this.
Not everyone commenting will have a similar excuse.

Oreo Below is what I wrote in my post, I don't know what gives you the right to speak on behalf of the population of Soham, I wouldn't do that as there will, no doubt, be a range of emotions.
"IMO anyone condoning violence, even if it is between two prisoners who have committed vile murders, are lacking in a moral compass."

One of the many reasons we have laws is because we know that people can act in times of high emotion in ways that are counter productive to the needs of society. Our laws give us a moral framework to our behaviour even when we are angry and revengeful. I stand by my conviction that "condoning violence" lacks a moral compass, there is a difference between "wanting to hurt someone", "actually hurting someone" and condoning the violence committed by another person" and it is our moral compass which tells us what is and what isn't acceptable.

Oreo: "I may be the only poster saying that for police officers and prison officers the threat of violence comes with the nature of the job, what’s so hard to understand about that?"

You are entitled to your view. Nothing hard at all either in understanding your view as you set out. You have recognised that you are an outlier holding your view. Other posters set out their view that prison officers should not be expected to accept violence as an inherent or acceptable part of their job. While prison work involves inherent risks due to the nature of the population, official policy and safety advocates emphasise that being assaulted or abused is not a routine part of the job.

Here is a breakdown of the current perspectives and policies:

Official Position (HMPPS): Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) states that violence, including assaults and abuse, is "not part of the job".

Zero Tolerance Policies: The Prison Officers Association (POA) and official policies advocate for a "Zero Tolerance" approach to violence against staff, aiming to treat assaults as crimes that should be referred to the police for investigation.

Occupational Hazard vs. Acceptable Behaviour: Although violence is a frequently encountered risk in a prison environment, framing it as an "occupational hazard" that officers must tolerate is rejected by staff unions, who argue that workers deserve the same legal protections as police and the general public.

Safety Measures: In response to rising assaults on staff (which reached over 120 per 1,000 prisoners in 2025), authorities have implemented measures like PAVA incapacitant spray, body-worn cameras, and rigid, enhanced training to help officers manage and de-escalate violence.

Duty of Care: The prison service has a legal duty of care to protect staff from foreseeable injury and to ensure their safety and wellbeing.

While acknowledging the reality of a dangerous environment, the consensus is that the system should aim to prevent and penalise violence rather than treating it as acceptable.

LemonJam thanks

In my working life I made frequent visits to prison. I found the PO’s always helpful. Often I’d be interviewing a violent prisoner who’d be understandably upset. The POs helped me set up the interview room ensuring my safety, they’d be nearby but not observing/considered interfering,

I have close friends who were prison governors, friends who were forensic psychologists in prison and probation officers based in prison.

We need to move towards the CJS used in Scandi countries.

Breaking News
Huntley’s life support system has been switched off.

While I don't expect any posters to be crying at this news, and I'm not, please don't forget he has a mother who birthed him, nurtured him, and is at a loss to understand what happened to the little boy she loved so much. She has done nothing wrong and will be hurting. Compassion for her costs us nothing.

When his death is announced I won't give him as much as a seconds thought.
I'm not bothered either how his mother feels.

My thoughts will be with the parents if Holly snd Jessica and the nightmares they musthave to endure every night.
And that doctors and nurses will have been spared the job of caring fhave to nurse the monster day in and day out in hospital.

Sorry for the typos this morning, but my sentiments are hopefully clear.

"I'm not bothered either how his mother feels."

FFS I don't care about him, and my thoughts have always been with Holly and Jessica and their parents. However compassion is not limited, the poor Mother of Huntley as posted above is probably confused and grieving, she even said it was better he died. Let us not forget she did not commit this heinous act.

rafichagran

"I'm not bothered either how his mother feels."

FFS I don't care about him, and my thoughts have always been with Holly and Jessica and their parents. However compassion is not limited, the poor Mother of Huntley as posted above is probably confused and grieving, she even said it was better he died. Let us not forget she did not commit this heinous act.

Totally agree. It is Huntley that committed the crime, not any member of his family. Their tragedy is almost as great as that of the grieving parents.

How would any of those on this thread feel if it was their son or brother who had committed a heinous crime like this?

I'm not bothered = I'm indifferent, either way.
I don't need to know what the mother said.

Sometimes, to some, it's preferable to keepl emotions in check and not even try to imagine. On this one, I'm uninvolved.

The quality of mercy is not strained
Or perhaps some can only empathise with one ‘side’ or another. Of course the families and loved ones of those little girls are uppermost in our thoughts.
Huntley’s death will add to their life long loss and trauma.

None of this excludes the possibility of compassion to a mother who is living with the horrors her son inflicted

I feel sorry for Huntley’s mother and other family members just as I feel sorry for the families of the two little girls murdered.
Whenever there are murder victims there are very many loved one’s who lose their lives as well. Merely existing after the fact.
Huntley condemned them all to this.
But I wouldn’t have wished death on Huntley, or perhaps I would due to inflamed emotions, which is why it is good that we have a legal process for even the most heinous criminals that doesn’t run on emotion or the desire for revenge.

Iam64, I love that quote!
Much needed in these sometimes confusing times.

I do feel sorry for his mum. She will be going through all the heartbreak again, knowing she gave birth to a monster.
Also, his daughter, what pretty girl. I didn’t know he had a child.
Imagine having that legacy over you, him for a father.

With you all the way MartavTaurus
Better all round that he’s dead now.

The End!

Just heard this minute while I am reading this thread, that Ian Huntley has died.
No comment to make.

Good.

Hopefully it will bring closure to the families of the two little girls as they are the only ones who matter.

Wonder how the ghastly Maxine Carr feels on hearing the news?

She got off far too lightly and has had millions spent on her to start a new anonymous life and had her appearance changed.

Thoughts with the families of Holly and Jessica today.