Report comment

Having been retired some time, what happened to the sentencing matrices? Depart from those and it's an automatic appeal, with certain success and a black mark on the sentencer's record.
Does anyone honestly believe that there will not be yet again another blind-side reduction in custodial sentences whilst attempting to destroy Magistrates local sentencing quirks (that really used to upset Labour Governments). One only has to look at the pathetic sentences being imposed for particularly GBH.
And do I recall a promise by a man called Cameron who stated that anyone found in possession of a bladed weapon would receive a custodial sentence.....how much for possession of a bottle of acid or drain cleaner (if the Police are allowed to actually search anyone? It seems to me that the major obstacle to sentencing tribunals is the political interference with justifiable sentences.