Letters - Monday, March 2, 2020

Official figures show that only six per cent of criminals are now sent to jail, which is a damning indictment on the current criminal justice system.

You only have to read the outcome of court cases to see just where the problems are.

Sentences are invariably inadequate, and this is before the totally unacceptable minimum 50 per cent reduction in time served.

Suspended sentences have now reached epidemic proportions.

These should be one-offs, and not the norm as seems to be the case these days.

“Life” sentences are a joke, with prisoners let out very often after only a few years inside.

On most occasions, a life sentence should mean exactly that.

Far better for all sentences to be served in full, with time added on for bad behaviour.

All assaults on police and emergency staff should result in a custodial sentence.

Maximum sentences should be abolished, giving judges more room to ensure that the punishment fits the crime.

All sentences should be consecutive, with no concurrent sentences given.

All the above issues only scratch the surface of what is currently wrong with the justice system.

It would be nice to think that we now have a Home Secretary who is more inclined to shift the balance away from the offender in favour of the victim, and the rest of the law-abiding general public.

Bob Watson

Address supplied

SPORT

Wise to ban heading

Re: Heading footballs.

I was concerned at the recent disclosure that former professional footballers were significantly more prone to dementia in later life than the general public. Professionals would certainly have honed their heading skills during their youth when they were more susceptible to damage.

The FA have therefore acted wisely in banning under 13-year-olds from heading in training.

One thing is certain however; without heading, the senior game would be much diminished.

There are few more exhilarating sights – or experiences – in sport than a diving headed goal.

Brian H Sheridan

Address supplied

LITTER

Why not take your rubbish home?

I am constantly dismayed to see the amount of rubbish in our hedgerows and pavements. Obviously most of this is thrown from vehicles. Why do they feel they must offload their rubbish instead of taking it home and disposing in their own rubbish bins?

I am quite calmly writing this, but every time I see it I am furious at their disregard for the environment. Young people mostly show great concern for the environment, I can only presume these ‘dirty and thoughtless’ people are adults who throw out their rubbish.

We have recently had a new road surface in part of Dewsbury and the daffodils are bravely appearing, only to be engulfed by cans and plastic bottles etc.

I feel ashamed of my fellow countrymen/women who do this. We have a beautiful country. why, why, why must we behave like ignorant thugs?

We can start by educating children in the first instance and hope they grow up better than their elders.

Marilyn Shaw

via email

FOOD

Will Mr Eustace

eat US imports?

So Environment Secretary George Eustace refuses to rule out importing hormone-treated beef and chlorinated chicken from the US under a future trade deal.

Would he be eating these meats himself?

Probably not.

Judith Harris

Address supplied

ROYAL MAIL

This is why we

have increases

I share Shaun Kavanagh’s unhappiness at the Royal Mail’s plan to increase postal charges (Your Say, February 28).

This organisation was fully privatised in 2015 - up until then it was a state owned public service.

Now it is run for shareholder profit. Hence the price increase.

Noel Cullinane

via email