Should the rioters be given a prison sentence?

[rov1100]

Although the courts have charged the offenders with a crime no punishment has yet been given. This will take place in bloc by the crown court sometime in the near future.

However if the crimes are to be given prison sentences then hundreds of these criminals will have black marks against them and making it almost impossible to find work in future.

Is there an alternative such as boot camps or compulsory civic duties that will keep their record clear and maybe put them on the straight and narrow and keep our prisons for more deserving criminals?

[MarkRae]

More "deserving" criminals, eh? I doubt the family who ran the House of Reeves in Croydon would have much problem a custodial sentence given to the scum who torched their business...

[mosesg]

I think Community Service and then they can right the wrong they have done. They can clean up their mess and help build the communities back up. Then it might teach them the amount of hard work that goes into building a business, a home or a community.

[rov1100]

Obviously you have drawn the bad apple from the hundreds that nicked clothes from stores but maybe there should be exceptions for criminals such as these.

[woofgang]

I agree, they should be out on the streets apologising and righting the damage and misery they have caused.

[MarkRae]

An alternative viewpoint might be that the very reason that these scum looted shops in the first place is because they know there is very little chance of their receiving any sort of appropriate punishment...

[ummmm]

No....that was the risk they took when they acted like animals.

You can still get jobs with a criminal record...

[Everhelpful]

You are right,Mark,they will get the softest sentence available.

[Ankou]

this will be a first offence for most, so probably a caution.

[ummmm]

They won't get the softest sentence available..

[MarkRae]

Of course they will - and they know it. Nobody would steal a pair of trainers if they genuinely believed that it would result in their imprisonment, even for a short time...

[ummmm]

It would depend on what part they played really...

[ummmm]

EDDIE - it can also have the opposite effect.

[youngmafbog]

Teaching assistant. Bet he's a lefty marxist anarchist scum so best thing is he is away from kids.

[MarkRae]

Eddie, I have to say my heart bleeds for the poor chap...

A teaching assistant, you say? As in a person who ought to be setting an example to people who are still in education?

Preventing such scum from having any further contact with impressionable youngsters seems to me a good thing...

[youngmafbog]

Name and shame, chain gangs & imprisonment. That should sort it.

[bondgirl007]

they should have thought about the consequences before they ruined peoples livelyhood! i hope they all get caught

[ummmm]

EDDIE - do you not think it depends on the persons background?