On Sunday two teenage girls were walking on the footpath alongside the A46 Laceby By-pass which is a dual carriageway just outside Grimsby, NE Lincolnshire. Based purely on the TV coverage it is alledged that there were two cars travelling at speed along the dual carriageway when one crossed the central reservation (no Armco) mounted the opposite verge and collided with the two girls killing them both . The driver ran off but was soon apprehended. He is now remanded in custody on charges of Death by Reckless, Disq Driving, Driving Over The Limit and no insurance. The driver of the other vehicle is on bail.
I DO NOT WISH TO GENERATE DISCUSSION ON THIS PARTICULAR CASE AS IT IS NOW SUB JUDICE.
Then on the news tonight I see that a male was convicted of the murder of two Police Officers on the A42 last Summer when having been pursued for some time deliberately drove into the back of their vehicle. The TI helicopter footage made my flesh creep.
However why is it that we so often we hear of similar tragedies and regularly the offenders are in a similar position i.e. drink/drugged and already disqualified. Where are we going wrong? How can we improve our lot? Useful debate only please not just Police bashing unless its constructive!
Fullchat
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I'm afraid that we are never going to get anywhere until sentences for such crimes are stiffened considerably.
All to often we hear of tragedies such as these (and the one in Grimsby broke my heart to read about it - my sincere condolences to both families) and then discover that the perpetrator has a string of driving offences as long as your arm, and is currently banned.
These people make a mockery of the law by ignoring any bans handed down to them, so the only answer is to remove them from society so that they cannot drive. The government needs to build at least one dedicated prison to house all these low-life scum. But, sadly, this will never happen as the 'Human Rights' lot will be whingeing and whining about the rights of the prisoner.
WHAT ABOUT THE RIGHT OF THE INNOCENT MOTORIST/PEDESTRIAN TO USE THE ROADS WITHOUT FEAR OF DEATH OR INJURY???
Sorry to shout, but I do feel very strongly about this.
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Not sure of your point: The bloke who killed the 2 police officers doing their duty got 15 years, and quite right. Are you asking "How can we prevent such things happening?". These people are low life in my opinion. I wish I knew how we could tackle them. Apparently the current government have created a new initiative to tackle young offenders, and prevent re-offending. I have heard that it is quite successful. Amybe this is the way to go: reform 'em before they get really bad.
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...and if that doesn't work put my name down to be a member of the firing squad.
Terry
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He'll probably serve only 6-7 years of that 15 year sentence. Totally inadequate. Personally, I'm a simple soul who believes that the vast majority of crime is committed by relatively few careerists, and that by taking a single one of these individuals out of circulation for even a couple of years, hundreds of crimes are prevented - and in some cases lives are saved. This makes a rising prison population a measure of success, not failure.
I also believe that rehabilitation is the sole responsibility of the individual, not the state or "society". Prisoners, and especially first-time offenders, should be given the chance to learn useful skills inside, gain some qualifications and be provided with career counselling - if they then continue to act outside the bounds of civilised human behaviour, as these drivers have done, they should be severely punished with punitive sentences served in full. Lifelong driving bans will have no effect whatsoever - it's just another rule to be ignored.
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He got life for murder of one officer and 15 years concurrently for manslaughter of the other. The argument for the differing sentences was that he would have seen the driver getting back into the car, but probably would not have seen the other.
It's not a question of police bashing, more court-bashing, in my opinion. The courts need to set better sentences for serial offenders like these, and on this point (though not others), I'm with Blunkett, and indeed Burnout's 2nd para.
The footage of the crash was horrible: I drive on that bit of road on the way to the parents, and there was for a long time a large bit of melted tarmac. Far more sobering than any sign or bunch of flowers by the road.
O
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Actually Fullchat I don't think Blunkett's umpteen revisions of the Criminal Justice system helps all that much.
Not as much as the thought that some misplaced youthful endeavours will earn a clip rund the ear from the local bobby followed by a word to the wise heading in your parents direction.
Bring back National Service!
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Just on a legal point... that guy is NOT coming out for 15 years. He may well get longer inside if he shows no remorse. As a lifer, he will always be on parole and can be locked up for more or less any crime if, when he comes out at age 55 or so, he decides to. As his chances of being a homeless alcoholic and dying within a few years are then very high indeed, it's safe to say that this is not a slap on the wrist.
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I don't know why these people get charged with motoring offences. If you are disqualified then you shouldn't be driving, end of argument, it's manslaughter or murder.
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"his chances of being a homeless alcoholic and dying within a few years are then very high indeed"
I couldn't agree more but would add, without wouldn't commenting on this individual, that the chances of someone being released from clink and re-offending is very high. Some progressive work is being done (led by the Police believe it or not) in some areas to identify and then target these people and try to break the cycle of criminality and throw multi-agency services at them on release, and if that doesn't work locking them up on the least pretext, The ill-infomred see this as namby pamby Social Work type stuff - the reality is that this is a hard nosed budget led initiative. In some Police areas 70% of crime are committed by 10% of Offenders, vehicle users being the chief victims. Watch Mr Brunstrom's area in particular....so its not all Speed Cameras up there.
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I'd echo that thought, and just wish that the police in our ruralish area had the targeting mentality. At around 10.30- 11.00pm, i can recognise the dulcet tones of the local hooli's racing their modded cars in the direction of Ribchester and back. Its a 30 limit but I'd guess they are doing 70-90 down our Bray Hill equivalent. Yes, I have spoken to our local nick. Go away was their repsonse between yawns. Its all the sheep (and diesel) rustling that keeps them out at all hours... I kid you not.
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Aren't most crimes drug related i.e. stealing to feed a habit? Got a feeling my preferred solution aint too popular round here ...
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Very true, and your solution has been suggested by at least one high ranking police person very recently. It would certainly knock a lot of crimes on the head if carried out as well as provide a good source of revenue (some of which could actually be spent on roads).
teabelly
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