A legal minefield

THE extent of the country's legal minefield is illustrated by the fact that many MPs, and military leaders, believe there are not sufficient deterrents for those mindless morons who desecrate war memorials, even though Labour introduced 3,000 criminal offences during its reign.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Aug 2010, 23:39 BST
Updated 24th Aug 2010, 23:39 BST

One reason for this confused, and muddled, state of affairs is the extent to which ordinary members of the public can be criminalised for offences, or minor rule breaches, that should be classed as civil matters instead of being allowed to clog up a financially-challenged criminal justice system which is already creaking under a paperwork mountain.

Take the laws governing farmers. In 2008, Defra created more than 100 criminal offences in a single Act aimed at reducing the spread of BSE. While this is paramount to the safety of the agricultural industry, it is difficult to justify such cases, if they come to fruition, being held in Crown Courts where cases involving extreme violence, including murder, are regularly heard.

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However, Labour's obsession with creating unnecessary laws now means that two per cent of crown court defendants are tried on regulatory matters, and the interpretation of legislation. No wonder, it takes so long for some high-profile cases to come before the courts.

It's why the Law Commission's reform call is welcome. It also need not be complicated. It simply needs Ministers to be persuaded to introduce an element of common sense so that the courts can focus on the most serious offenders – those individuals whose criminality poses a genuine threat to the safety of others.

Related topics:LabourMPsDEFRA