REFERRING to my letter in which I said "it isn't the law that's an ass, it's those who make the laws who are donkeys," Malcolm Bristow points out that the people who make the laws are the MPs we elect into office.
Well, of course, Malcolm is right. But I would have thought it was obvious from my letter that I was referring to those on the Judicial Studies Board, who have sent out a reference to magistrates and district judges, suggesting they should be far more lenient with young offenders.
Malcolm tells us that "criticism is easy, getting it perfectly right not quite as easy, but something which can be worked towards."
Wise words. But does Mr Bristow believe that in classing crimes such as muggings, burglaries, car thefts, driving carelessly, shop lifting and vandalism, as "crimes of low seriousness", the Judicial Studies Board are on the right track? Does he think, by suggesting young offenders who commit these crimes should walk free from court unpunished, the members of the Board are working towards perfection?
Brian Derbyshire
Ribchester Grove
Bolton
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