"Lighter sentences for 'desperate' thieves"

The Telegraph informs us that this most incompetent Labour government have now instructed "to take an offender's dependency into account when sentencing. Crimes committed out of "desperation or need" will also be considered a mitigating factor when deciding whether the offender should be jailed."

Yes I know the guidelines were issued by the Sentencing Guidelines Council, which is chaired by Lord Phillips, the Lord Chief Justice, but does anyone really believe they were not guided by this Government?

"They cover offences of theft, including picking pockets - though not mugging - and burglary from non-domestic buildings such as shops, doctors' surgeries or churches... The guidelines state: ''Many offenders convicted of acquisitive crimes are motivated by an addiction, often to drugs, alcohol or gambling.

''This does not mitigate the seriousness of the offence, but an offender's dependency may properly influence the type of sentence imposed."



So that's zero tolerance if you drive 5mph over a speed-limit, stray into a bus lane because the normal lane is blocked by someone turning right or overstay your wait on a yellow line; that's a fine and/or points and no excuses allowed for driving offences but all the mitigating factors taken into account if you stick to robbing corner shops. Welcome to Labour Britain...