Letter: International law on juvenile crime
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: The Home Secretary's plans announced yesterday for eventually changing juvenile sentencing law failed to address a more immediate and substantially more important law and order problem, which was highlighted by the report of the case at Sutton Youth Court on 2 March ('Boy given bail after admitting 200 raids,' 3 March).
When persistent juvenile offenders are taken to court and learn that they must be released on bail, they receive no incentive to change their ways.
My colleagues and I and our Benches experience this problem daily in the outer London Courts. We share the very real and understandable concerns of the Metropolitan Police Service and the public that juvenile law enforcement and criminal justice processes are, in this particular respect, wholly ineffectual under current legislation.
Yours sincerely,
P. W. H. LYDIATE
Honorary Secretary
Justices' Clerks' Society
Outer London Branch
London, NW10
3 March
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments