U.K.: Most senior judge says crooks targeting elderly could avoid jail, do a community order

CYPRUS (Farmagusta Gazette), March 12, 2008: The March 11 edition of The Daily Express, London, claims Britain has gone "even softer on crime" after the UK's most senior judge reportedly said crooks who target the elderly could avoid jail and just do a community order. It says they could avoid being locked up if there are “mitigating circumstances”, under new sentencing guidelines proposed by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips. These include thieving to feed a drug addiction, gambling habit or drink prob-lem – which means junkies who prey on the vulnerable could get softer punishments. And a maximum jail term of just three years was proposed for theft with force or intimidation against a vulnerable person – though seven years is the highest punishment allowed under law. Critics last night attacked the new plans from the Sentencing Guidelines Council, which is chaired by Lord Phillips. Copyright © 2008 Famagusta Gazette.