If this story is accurate, well done to @RobertBuckland for standing up to the infantile reactionary grandstanding of @patel4witham.
[THREAD]
thetimes.co.uk/article/5bc450…
[THREAD]
thetimes.co.uk/article/5bc450…
Putting aside the intellectual vacuity of Patel’s “More Prison” mantra, like some automated Michael Howard tribute act, there’s one good reason why “doubling the max prison sentence for assaulting...police officers to 2 years” is a moronic policy:
It’s basically already the law.
It’s basically already the law.
S38 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 provides for up to two years’ imprisonment for assaulting a police officer with intent to resist arrest.
An assault causing injury can be charged under s47/s20 or s18 of the same Act, with maxima of 5 years and life respectively.
An assault causing injury can be charged under s47/s20 or s18 of the same Act, with maxima of 5 years and life respectively.
There is no evidence offered to suggest that these powers are insufficient, or that a minor increase in sentences for offences not caught by the above provisions will achieve anything to make police officers safer.
@patel4witham is taking the police for fools.
@patel4witham is taking the police for fools.
