Letter: Sentencing and sensibility

Correspondent • Published 11 Mar 2010 17:00 0 Comments

JIM Alston has done well in campaigning for a review on sentencing following the death of his son Bobby in a motorcycle accident ('Dad gets promise of tougher sentences', Reading Midweek, March 3).

Rob Wilson MP supported Jim and organised a debate in Parliament regarding sentencing. Sandra Hudson, whose husband Robert was killed by a hit and run driver, also attended the debate. In that case the driver was sentenced to only 24 weeks in prison.

As a result of this debate and meetings with the victims, Jack Straw has now agreed to review sentencing guidelines.

Not before time, Jack! While you're at it, take a look at the Sentencing Guideline Council - a Government quango responsible (but certainly not accountable) for the discredited sentencing system. This quango and countless others should be scrapped, saving millions of pounds of taxpayers' money. This is benefit enough in itself, but there's another issue: accountability.

While these quangos exist, politicians can push full responsibility away from themselves. They point instead to the appointed body.

We voters can't sack the quangos if we believe they have got it wrong, we only get to pay for them.

Let's get back to ministers being both responsible and accountable, saving money and moving power closer to voters.

John Walker (address withheld)

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