Witness Statement

qetu1357

missile wrote: »

You might think so, but the courts take a much more lenient view.

In england, most cases will be heard in the magistrates court where the maximum sentence is 6 months imprisonment. Only the most serious cases will be referred to crown court where the maximum sentence is 5 years imprisonment.

In this shocking case where the witness was assaulted by a gang of eight in her own home. Only the ring leader was sentenced to 6 months in prison. > http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2012/10/09/mob-in-court-over-witness-intimidation-at-rawthorpe-86081-31994518/

And your example shows how justice and law and order will (is?) fall apart if such cases aren't taken more seriously.

Build more prisons I say and lock up more people - such as the gang of eight.

arcon5

I have to say, having read this thread I would certainly think twice about giving a witness statement or testifying against a local person committing a crime in my area. I would though make an anonymous call to report an incident if it seemed unknown to the police at the time.

qetu1357

arcon5 wrote: »

I have to say, having read this thread I would certainly think twice about giving a witness statement or testifying against a local person committing a crime in my area. I would though make an anonymous call to report an incident if it seemed unknown to the police at the time.

I'm ashamed and afraid to say that I agree with you.

We should change society so the criminals live in fear not the rest of us.

missile

Successive governments commission studies, create quangos and talk about getting tough on crime, but neither party seems to do much about it.

I despair when I read about criminals demanding their rights and compensation for intolerable conditions in prison, which seem to be far better than many law abiding old people have to endure.

Smi1er

missile wrote: »

CCTV is not practical, as it is a communal parking area and car is not parked in the same spot each night.

So how did they know which car to target?

1886

Roughly ten years ago I saw two men with an air gun shooting at members of the public. They shot at me and hit a bag I was carrying. They did'nt realise I knew where they were.
I rang 999 and directed the first Policeman to them, soon after that an armed response unit turned up with a machine gun. They got the fright of their miserable lives.
I, amongst over people they had hit including a girl in the face gave evidence. I went to court three times as one of the two did'nt turn up the first two times. They were both given six months in prison.

I would'nt give evidence again because like the OP said, your name is on the witness statement which their lawyer is given. My surname is quite uncommon so it would be quite easy to find where I lived at the time. I was concerned about going into town shopping etc. for some time afterwards in case they recognised me. If I had have known my name would be on the statement I would have just rang the police and not given evidence unless I could do it anonymously

missile

Smi1er wrote: »

So how did they know which car to target?

asked and answered.

JohalaReewi

So why aren't witnesses given the name(s) of the defendant(s)?

BillTrac

missile wrote: »

Successive governments commission studies, create quangos and talk about getting tough on crime, but neither party seems to do much about it.

I despair when I read about criminals demanding their rights and compensation for intolerable conditions in prison, which seem to be far better than many law abiding old people have to endure.

Brings back to mind the idea of putting criminals in Old People's homes, and the old people in prison. Like to see staff kicking Bubba around:rotfl:, and the 'old folk' would get better food etc

My job regularly entails visiting custodial premises, and I am gob-smacked by the equipment my(and your) taxes pay for.:mad:. One large establishment was refurbishing a wing and there were plasma tvs, PS3s etc going in. (Not in the cells I must admit)

I honestly cannot see how the prison environment rehabilitates or punishes offenders. Some find it preferable to living on the outside, because all their needs are met.

arcon5

JohalaReewi wrote: »

So why aren't witnesses given the name(s) of the defendant(s)?

Our local papers website has an 'In the courts of ___' section, which actually includes the name and address (house number, street name, town/city) of defendants