Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Why the Jail rate is "West Europe's highest"

There is more crime in England and Wales than elsewhere!

The Howard League for Penal Reform, 140.4 people in every 100,000 of the population is in jail. This rate is 50% higher than France and double that of Scandinavian countries.

Is this really where we want to be? We have to end this country's obsession with custody. Prison should be reserved for serious and dangerous offenders. - Howard League director Frances Cook.

However, even as far back as 1999, the Home Office reports that the percentage risk of becoming a victim in England & Wales was higher than in either France or Sweden! (Table 2 on page 17).

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

We wouldn't have so many people in prison if punishments were sufficient deterrents. For example, persistent thieves should risk losing a hand - that'd pretty swiftly stop them.
Why can't our politicians develop some more 'umph'.

the ink slinger said...

Cracking idea.

We're in favour of stoning, burning heretics, the stocks, the ducking stool and trial by ordeal too.