Violent criminals should face the criminal justice system

8.53.41am GMT Tue 10th Nov 2009

Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Policing Spokesperson and long standing member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, commenting on the recent comments by Sir Paul Stephenson, on the excessive use of cautions and fixed-penalty notices said:

"It is disgraceful that in some cases violent offenders are completely avoiding the criminal justice system. Cautions or fines are simply not acceptable for serious offences and especially acts of violence. It says a great deal about the complete mess of our justice system that the Metropolitan Commissioner has felt the need to speak out."

"There are a wide range of punishments that the justice system can give to non violent offenders, yet at present these are being used far too sparingly. Appearing in public before a magistrate and then being forced to carry out real work in the community should be far more common, instead of just cautions or fixed penalty notices being handed out by the police.

"At the same time we must keep more non violent offenders out of prison, especially people with mental health problems. This would help tackle the chronic overcrowding and the poor management of our prisons. Prisoners must also undertake work and be forced to pay compensation to the victims of their crime. Prisons could then play a real role in punishing violent and other serious criminals, helping to change the behaviour of more criminals before they are released and also ensuring that victims get a a much fairer deal."