Sentences after riots were too light

THE Howard League for Penal Reform has popped out of the box to protest at the disproportionate sentences handed down to the two idiots who incited rioting and looting.

They are absolutely right, the sentences ought to have been doubled. I can think of nothing worse than having our country smashed and humiliated by appalling people intent on destroying our society.

The Howard League for Penal Reform members have enjoyed a nice little industry over the last 20 or 30 years from promoting their liberal and ineffective policies on punishment. It’s time for them to return to the box and shut up!

From: Tim Mickleburgh, Boulevard Avenue, Grimsby

IT is easy to make a knee-jerk response to the recent riots (Yorkshire Post, August 17). Take for instance the suggestion that benefits be taken away from those found guilty. But if people don’t have any income and already have a history of criminality, isn’t a lack of benefits going to make it more likely that they break the law?

Sadly common sense seems to be lacking in the minds of many, what with individuals being found responsible not necessarily being either black or out of work. Which is why I’d like to see those going through the courts being asked the reason as to their involvement, and action then being taken as a result of the findings.

Otherwise it will be the Dangerous Dogs Act all over again.

From: Pete Day, Doncaster.

NO matter the misery and terror caused, no matter the cost of the repairs and no matter that the sentences were passed by legally appointed judges and magistrates, there are always some, not content with decades of lenient sentences which in many cases have been laughable, who are willing to defend these enemies of the communities and encourage them to continue to wreak mayhem.

From: G Goodison, Beckingham, Doncaster.

IT’S no good the Tories and Labour shedding crocodile tears about thieves and rioters when they have spent the last 50 years removing all deterrents to crime – teachers, parents and police. Victims have had their hands tied behind their backs by the Tory and Labour parties.

You reap as you sow. We are now reaping that.

Good sense takes holiday

From: Dave Horner, Cottingham, East Yorkshire.

Am I Just an old cynic too? I agree with everything Thomas Jefferson of Bridlington wrote (Yorkshire Post, August 16).

Where are the politicians when major things happen? On holiday again?

Everyone needs a holiday but why not agree to spread their holidays so at least someone is “running” the country.

Where are the parents with good discipline these days?

We were taught to respect each other, our parents, and grandparents, and other people’s property.

Where is the diversity and competitiveness of pricing of goods we should see?

Brown’s raid on pensions

From: Chris Giddings, Springwood Drive, Copley Lane.

IT should be quite obvious to Mary Creagh (Yorkshire Post. August 15) why not only rural workers but many in the general working population are not saving for their future retirement.

Low salaries are one thing but perhaps the most telling of all was the destruction of some of the best pension schemes in the world by her erstwhile colleague and ex-Chancellor, Gordon Brown, in 1997.

In one simple act he burdened the private pension system with heavy taxes, taking millions of pounds from funds, thus consigning many people to a life of penury in old age, their pensions all but gone.

Grave mistrust of the system followed when so many pensions had failed to produce the income expected plus the problems with mis-selling. People probably do not save for their retirement because in many cases they cannot afford to and many see no reason to save now to have nothing left of their investments when, and if, they can retire at 65, 66, 67 and rising.

Don’t try and take plaudits for introducing new pension schemes, Mary Creagh. You and your Labour colleagues should have left well alone.

Different faces of Somalia

From: Tim Conolly, Primrose Lane, Mirfield.

LIKE any normal person, I watch the pictures of the plight of the poor people of Somalia and I weep for them.

Most are obviously ordinary, decent people who have been overwhelmed by the drought over which they have no control and abused by the lunatic fringe that exists in that lawless country.

I would ask, however, should I feel proud to see our country doing so much to help just three Somalis, spending at least £120,000 per year and probably a lot more to keep them warm and comfortable, well fed and protected, with Sky TV, drugs on tap, mobile phones and any other thing they may desire?

I refer of course to the gang who shot the unarmed PC Sharon Beshenivsky and who tried to kill her colleague as well.

How can it be right to spend so much money on these people?