Christopher Fraser, Member of Parliament for South West Norfolk, has condemned the Home Secretary for writing to members of the judiciary to “remind” them of sentencing guidelines. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Fraser accused the Government of interfering with the Courts’ ability to dispense impartial, fair and even-handed justice, as well as further undermining the morale of local police.
Christopher Fraser said: “If two offenders who have committed the same offence in identical circumstances can be given vastly disparate sentences based solely on political pressures such as prison overcrowding, justice will not be seen to be served.
“The Home Secretary’s intervention has dealt another serious blow to the morale of our police. Despite facing cuts in numbers because of Government funding shortfall, Norfolk Constabulary continues to do all that it can to identify and arrest those who have committed crimes. Officers are hugely dispirited that they run the risk of seeing criminals that they have arrested walk away from Court despite the fact that, under normal circumstances, those found guilty would have faced custodial sentences.
What message does the current saga send to criminals, their victims or indeed to our police forces?” |