Words fail me.

jambutty · 19-04-2006, 11:32

This government really has gone too far this time.

A news item this morning revealed that this government would no longer compensate anyone who has been wrongly convicted and sent to prison. Instead the money saved will go to the victims of crime. Excuse me but isn’t the wrongly convicted person a victim too?

Forum etiquette prevents me from expressing my true feelings on this matter – just imagine the worst then double it.

garinda · 19-04-2006, 11:42

What news programme did you hear it on?

I can't find any details about it.

yerself · 19-04-2006, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambutty

A news item this morning revealed that this government would no longer compensate anyone who has been wrongly convicted and sent to prison. Instead the money saved will go to the victims of crime. Excuse me but isn’t the wrongly convicted person a victim too?

The news item I heard didn't say the government would no longer compensate victims of miscarriages of justice. What it did say was the amount of compensation would be reduced and the money saved would be directed toward compensating victims of crime.

jambutty · 19-04-2006, 12:05

It seems that the news wasn’t quite correct. Now the word is that compensation will be capped at £500,000 for people wrongly convicted. Not quite as bad but still terrible.

garinda · 19-04-2006, 12:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambutty

It seems that the news wasn’t quite correct. Now the word is that compensation will be capped at £500,000 for people wrongly convicted. Not quite as bad but still terrible.

Moral of the story, never believe what you hear, or what you read until you have all the facts.

You could have done yourself a mischief getting all worked up unnecessarily.

Sounds like a good idea to me that victims of crime get more money.

SPUGGIE J · 19-04-2006, 12:45

Maybe if the gov got its act together concerning illeagal and immoral money and retrieved that then crime victims could get more money. How can you compensate someone who has spent 15-20 years behind bars when innocent? If it was based on an average salery then they are being short change due to a botched investigation.

SPUGGIE J · 19-04-2006, 12:47

JB are you feeling ok it aint like you to have incorrect info prior to a post.

I will believe that the sock of what was suggested got to you.

jambutty · 19-04-2006, 12:50

What I heard in the first place was as I posted. It was the news item that wasn’t correct or rather didn’t give the full facts at that time. It seems to me that even the BBC Radio 2, which is normally reliable in reporting the news factually, cannot be relied upon to do so any more.

However a cap of a measly half a million quid is a fat load of use to someone wrongly banged up for a few years. The bit about giving victims greater access to compensation is to be applauded though.

This rob Peter to pay Paul attitude of this government is becoming more apparent with each passing day.

SPUGGIE J · 19-04-2006, 12:57

It is time victims got a better deal criminal elements have had it to easy for too long.

If Auntie cant get the news right what chance do we have?

Driller · 19-04-2006, 20:53

I did see something along the lines you say.. these sort of posts have come in the past (mainly from members who seem to belive everything in the daily mail is carved in stone) but if true it is not on!.. persons who have been "proved" to be innocent and served jail should get full compensation! can we imagine the devastation? they are also victims

garinda · 19-04-2006, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Driller

...persons who have been "proved" to be innocent and served jail should get full compensation! can we imagine the devastation? they are also victims

What is full compensation though?

If someone is banged up for ten years, and then they are found to have been innocent, if the capped rate of compensation is half a million pounds that equates to £50,000 for every year they were incarcerated.

Is that a fair amount? It's probably near to what we are told is the national average annual salary. What amount would make you happy if it was you?

This is why I am against the death penalty. On this forum I was shot down by people saying miscarriages happen so infrequently, one or two innocent deaths don't really matter all that much.

Whatever monetary value you put on someone being wrongly locked up, at least they can be somehow compensated, not so if they are six feet under.

If more money could be found from this innitiative for the victims of crime, so much the better.

harwood red · 19-04-2006, 22:33

definately with you on the death penalty garinda... as for compensation, what price is the loss of one's privelages and freedom when innocent never mind loss of wages too!!!???

jambutty · 20-04-2006, 08:33

It isn’t just loss of earnings whilst wrongfully in prison garinda. It’s the loss of freedom during that time. How can you quantify missing your kids growing up.

garinda · 20-04-2006, 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambutty

It isn’t just loss of earnings whilst wrongfully in prison garinda. It’s the loss of freedom during that time. How can you quantify missing your kids growing up.

I know that, I used that as a rather crass example.

I also asked what compensation someone receive if they have been wrongly banged up, say for ten years?

The thing is you can't really put a figure on someone's loss of freedom.

SPUGGIE J · 20-04-2006, 11:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

I know that, I used that as a rather crass example.

I also asked what compensation someone receive if they have been wrongly banged up, say for ten years?

The thing is you can't really put a figure on someone's loss of freedom.

There lies the crux. How can it be quantified unless bassed on some kind of sliding rule of payments.