Does crime pay then?

[For Us All]

Does this set a precedent?

People stealing food,so the police dish out food vouchers.

 

Views and opinions please.

 

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Staffordshire-Police-criminals-free-food/story-19642124-detail/story.html

[For Us All]

After a number of complaints,the police and crime commissioner Matthew Ellis has stepped in and suspended this police project.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-23654802

[JOHNNYAITCH]

The idea of helping those so desperate for food that they resort to stealing it is something that has to be looked at..we must help the needy

 

However, the PR side of it must be managed well as it must not appear that those who steal get help whereas those who abide by the law do not get such help

[geosname]

Crime pays if you dont get caught...... or you get a very lenient judge

 

But can you commit a crime without going to court... until the verdict is in arent you just suspected of the crime

[JOHNNYAITCH]

If you did the crime (as in you broke the law) you are guilty, you have committed a crime..but you may not be convicted for many reasons..you still did it

[geosname]

So there is no innocent until proven guilty?

[JOHNNYAITCH]

Yes there is....the law treats you as innocent until you are proven guilty. That does not mean that you are innocent cos you haven't been proven guilty...not being proven guilty does not necessarily mean that you are innocent..the onus is on 'the law' to prove your guilt

[geosname]

So whats the middle state..... the one between guilt and innocence?... in the eyes of the law of course

[JOHNNYAITCH]

No expertise on this but I suppose that there is the Scottish "not proven"..perhaps that is some sort of middle ground?

 

Perhaps also there is middle ground in that when accused of a serious crime one can be placed on remand where it is considered too much of a risk to 'release' the accused? Carries the considerable risk of an innocent party spending much time being incarcerated

[geosname]

The whole criminal legal system revolves around the not guilty by assumption stand... from being charged... to standing in the dock as the accused all assume innocence [in law]... once a decision is made [pleadings/jury/judge] as to guilt then guilt is established.

The presumption of innocence is the backbone of the criminal system and until you are actually convicted you are innocent... that doesnt mean you didnt do it, it just means you are innocent in the eyes of the law.

People are often arrested but never charged, some are charged and released on bail, some are remanded [different rules are applied to remandees if they have not been convicted] some are tried but the burden of proof isnt met... all are innocent in the eyes of the law until the judge, the jury or they them selves say they are guilty.

 

At least thats how I remember it

[JOHNNYAITCH]

The Scottish not proven thing adds another dimension....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_proven

[JohnJames]

Fundamentally.People are so poor in this city they revert to stealing. The TORY non democratically elected PCC don't like it as the Sunday Express says its wrong. The Police (who know a scumbag when they see one) take pity on them and give them food. Are we that intolerant of the poor now in this country and city?

 

If they had gone to the Shik temple they would have fed them as its part of their religious belief.

[For Us All]

Fundamentally.People are so poor in this city they revert to stealing. The TORY non democratically elected PCC don't like it as the Sunday Express says its wrong. The Police (who know a scumbag when they see one) take pity on them and give them food. Are we that intolerant of the poor now in this country and city?

 

If they had gone to the Shik temple they would have fed them as its part of their religious belief.

 

Non-democratically elected hey?The last time I looked on the map,Stoke-on-Trent was still in Staffordshire. :rolleyes:

 

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Matthew-Ellis-wins-Staffordshire-Police-Crime/story-17340107-detail/story.html

[JohnJames]

Who brought in Geography????

If you are content to think that elections where nobody voted for people they knew nothing about was democratic you are as foolish as you are bigoted.

 

Funnily enough the real story is explained here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-23667515

 

People who were starving were given food. Whats wrong with that???

[For Us All]

Who brought in Geography????

If you are content to think that elections where nobody voted for people they knew nothing about was democratic you are as foolish as you are bigoted.

 

Funnily enough the real story is explained here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-23667515

 

People who were starving were given food. Whats wrong with that???

 

You are getting me confused with someone else.

Where did I say that I was against giving starving people food?