Because democracy and the normal rules should of course be throw out when times get tough. Well, when times get tough for the lower classes. When it's the elite, it's generally best to ignore the catastrophic impact and pretend as though it never happened. No wonder the world is so jealous of our political systems in the west. We disregard the rules at will and protect the criminals with the deepest pockets. The Guardian:
Magistrates are being advised by the courts service to disregard normal sentencing guidelines when dealing with those convicted of offences committed in the context of last week's riots.Flash back to the banking crisis when some called for listing the names of the bankers and how much they earned. That was of course much too much and a violation of their privacy. Despite earning money that was funded by taxpayers it was too much. Naming and shaming the lower classes is fine, because they're the lower classes.
The advice, given in open court by justices' clerks, will result in cases that would usually be disposed of in magistrates courts being referred to the crown court for more severe punishment.
It may explain why some of those convicted have received punitive sentences for offences that might normally attract a far shorter term.
In Manchester a mother of two, Ursula Nevin, was jailed for five months for receiving a pair of shorts given to her after they had been looted from a city centre store. In Brixton, south London, a 23-year-old student was jailed for six months for stealing £3.50 worth of water bottles from a supermarket.
The Crown Prosecution Service also issued guidance to prosecutors on Monday, effectively calling for juveniles found guilty of riot-related crimes to be named and shamed. Those dealt with in youth courts are normally not identified. The youngest suspects bought before the courts last week in connection with the riots were an 11-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy.
