16 May 13
2 edits
Here is an article, its just been in the News and Theresa May got a round of applause from the police federation for her policy;
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4928210/Murdering-a-police-officer-to-mean-whole-life-in-prison.html
Is this right? I sympathise with the argument, the police do put themselves in danger and need protection.
But - for discussion - a famous UK court case was the Derek Bentley trial
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Bentley_case
Is there a case for self defense, the police sometimes break into peoples houses, or for diminished responsability as with Derek Bentley?
Your thoughts?
16 May 13
1 edit
Originally posted by e4chrisThere are 2 issues here.
Here is an article, its just been in the News and Theresa May got a round of applause from the police federation for her policy;
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4928210/Murdering-a-police-officer-to-mean-whole-life-in-prison.html
Is this right? I sympathise the argument, the police do put themselves in danger and need protection.
...[text shortened]... k into peoples houses, or for diminished responsability as with Derek Bentley?
Your thoughts?
The examples you give would most likely, if applicable, result in the person either being acquitted of murder, or the sentence reduced to manslaughter. So the whole of life tariff point would not apply in any case.
The other issue is whether the murder of a particular type of person should carry a tougher sentence.
As I don't support higher sentences for, say, racially aggravated offences, I don't support a mandatory whole of life sentence for killing a police officer.
I would be distressed, in fact, if someone got a tougher sentence for killing a police officer than for murdering my 7 year old son.
16 May 13
Originally posted by Rank outsiderI think there is a case for self defense if the police raid a house, otherwise i agree with the policy. Its not that police are sacred, more like what Mrs May said, attacking them is attacking society - you might need them next time. Also I think the law is being changed so police killers get the same as child killers, they can already get life with no parol.
There are 2 issues here.
The examples you give would most likely, if applicable, result in the person either being acquitted of murder, or the sentence reduced to manslaughter. So the whole of life tariff point would not apply in any case.
The other issue is whether the murder of a particular type of person should carry a tougher sentence.
A ...[text shortened]... eone got a tougher sentence for killing a police officer than for murdering my 7 year old son.