Thefts and Vandalism

No, it's only entrapment in UK law if there is an inducement to commit an offence. In this example, there is no inducement as any offence was committed previously.

 

Another sickening case of vandalism.
How low will people stoop?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-35985436

 

Hello,
Mindless act of destruction.
Another act during school holiday time.


Nick

 

Why do the press call them "fire - raisers?" They are arsonists and criminals.

I think a fitting punishment, on conviction, would be, "You will rebuild this, in your own time, and at your own expense. You will have no free time until this job is completed. If you then feel inclined to burn it down again, know that you will repeat the experience."

That should give them pause for thought and it will keep them out of useless prison.

 

There are many areas of the language and media coverage which are different in Scotland, compared to England. Many areas of the law and the way it works differ considerably (just try buying a house or getting divorced, both of which I've done) and so different words are used. Media headlines can often be much wordier - the Scottish version of things like "Man convicted of assaulting neighbour" is often longer and quotes first names, surnames and places!

Many other words are used differently to how they are in England. How often do you hear 'outwith', 'dreich' or 'bairn' south of the border? Or people saying "I was shouting on so-and-so" (instead of 'shouting at' or 'shouting to')? It might sound wrong to an Englandshirer, but it isn't. It's just different. (As a Sassenach myself I now find it weird going 'home' and hearing the English way of speaking, let alone the inconvenience of finding supermarkets only open from 10-4 on a Sunday!)

Meanwhile, expressing outrage about the 'wee shites' (another Scottish term) and what you would like to do to them doesn't help the CR at all. If you want to actually make a difference, you can donate here, as many already have... https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/rebuild-the-brechin-brakevan

 

Sad news at the Swindon and Cricklade Railway,

Our beloved "Thumper" unit was destroyed in a fire last Friday. Cause is unknown at this time, but we're 99% sure it's arson. Trailer car is a complete write off, power car could be salvageable. Gutted is an understatement. Some pictures and news reports below

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-36349469

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3602583/Rare-vintage-diesel-train-worth-100-000-destroyed-arson-attack.html


An appeal has been set up as we've been inundated with offers of donations. Obviously things were insured, but some of the tools lost won't be covered. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Prevention!!. Criminals do not like being seen at work.
First of all valuable assets should not be shunted off into the middle of nowhere without some form of human presence close by.
I have often wondered why Heritage Railways do not equip brake vans and the like with some form of dormitory accommodation.
A man with a mobile phone and a large dog can have a deterring effect; and the bonus of free digs for the volunteers

 

Then, clearly, the statistics don't include the State of Texas, which deliberately make their sentencing and prison regimes tough.
I was told, quite forcefully, by a nephew who worked in the Crown Prosecution Service that "Prison is not about punishment - it's about rehabilitation".

So, how do British re-offending rates compare with Texas? 85% of our ex-prisoners are caught and convicted of another offence within 12 months. In Texas, that figure is 16%.

 

The yooman rights mob can .....(insert appropriate fate here)........

The damage those half-wits have caused is unimaginable, and the fact that many of them have the best of intentions is no excuse.

Jack

 

http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-report-recidivism-rate-down.html
http://www.nationalreview.com/artic...e-both-incarceration-and-crime-ken-cuccinelli

http://open.justice.gov.uk/reoffending/overall-reoffending/

Rate of reoffending in England and Wales, 2013: 26.46%

 

What's the source for that claim? Sounds like you made it up.

Simon

 

We've suffered too last week;

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/crime/2017/04/14/yobs-smash-up-telford-steam-railway-with-video/

 

The NYMR's teak set was trashed last night. The RMB looks to have come off particularly badly.

 

So sad to hear all the peoples hard work to return these coaches to working condition damaged, and now time and money need to be spent getting them back into use and the holding up of restoring other of these teak coaches because of this. It must be so heart breaking for the people who have raised money and done the restoration work that they have to start all over again.

 

There's a post on the GWSR Broadway thread wondering if stock might be stored overnight at Cheltenham. The title of this thread unfortunately provides a reason why not. What with Felin Fawr, the Swindon & Cricklade 'Thumper', numerous recorded prolems at Kidderminster in addition to those mentioned in this thread, anyone could be forgiven for utter despair.

Mindless vandalism is nothing new, even though there's clearly a lot more of it these days. Recall Tom Rolt's comments in 'Railway Adventure', or problems at Blodge during the Festiniog's dormant period.

There's no escaping the need for reviewing security measures to protect irreplaceable artifacts. It wouldn't come as a surprise if insurance companies forced the issue. More bl--dy expense, of course, but a fraction of the costs of vandalism.

 

Link to the facebook page with photos. https://www.facebook.com/pg/northyorkshiremoorsrailway/posts/?ref=page_internal

 

I could be wrong but following theft of camera equipment on holiday in Portugal, my understanding of the law there is that the cost of any criminal act becomes a debt of the culprit. So if you cause £1000s of pounds worth of damage like this you will have a lifetime of your pay being docked as directed by the court until it's paid off or you can be directed to repair the damage done. It's probably why there is very little evidence of vandalism there apart from a bit of graffiti.

 

I understood that Sweden has or had the same policy, but started to question it because offenders picked up such huge debts that it became impossible to repay them and they ended up with no incentive to 'go straight'

I suggest that some sort of 'conditional arrangement' whereby good behaviour could result in such charges being reduced or written off may have some attractions.

However I would certainly support banning drivers with outstanding motoring fines until they are repaid