Magisterial incompetence?

Not just, I hasten to add, by the Magistrates in their sentencing of Eric Joyce, but also of the MSM.


From Direct.Gov we learn:

Some offences (known as ‘summary offences’) are dealt with only by magistrates’ courts. These include:
most motoring offences

• minor theft - like stealing from a shop

• minor ‘public order’ offences (like being drunk and disorderly)

We also learn that the maximum sentence which can be imposed by a Magistrates Court is:

• six months in prison, and/or
• a fine of up to £5,000 (£2,000 in Northern Ireland)

While actual details of charges are not known, from the Huff Post we learn that Joyce was charged with four counts of Assault, which are listed in the Magistrates' Court Sentencing Guidelines as:

"Assault occasioning actual bodily harm, Offences Against the Person Act 1861, s.47 201Assault on a police constable, Police Act 1996, s.89(1) 209Assault with intent to resist arrest, Offences Against the Person Act 1861, s.38 205"

 When "L'affaire Joyce" broke, much was made in the media that were he to be sentenced to more than 12 months he would automatically lose his position as a Member of Parliament. Yet, if you have been charged with a crime, the process to decide whether you're guilty or not guilty begins in a magistrates' court and we all know that, do we not? Although not, it would seem, the MSM! Presumably as the House of Commons is not classified, I believe, a 'public place', Joyce could not be charged with being drunk and disorderly under the Criminal Justice Act 1967 s.91


Yet one has to question why four charges of assault did not bring the maximum sentence of six months in jail and a fine of £5,000 - the chief magistrate would not have had a word said in his ear, would he? Pound to a penny, if it had been one of 'us plebs' we would have had the book thrown at us and been sent to Crown Court for sentencing.


That our justice system appears to stink; and the suspicion that what you know and who you know plays a big part cannot be discounted. One cannot help wondering how long it will be for the likes of Devine and Chaytor to resurface in some publicly funded role - having been promised: take your punishment and we'll see you alright.........


A paper has been published by Professors Dr. Matthew Goodwin, Lecturer in Politics at the School of Politics and International Relations, University of Nottingham, and Associate Fellow at Chatham House; and Jocelyn Evans, Professor of Politics at the University of Salford, in which it is stated that the 'far right' will rise up resulting in conflict between ethnic, racial and religious communities which they suggest is inevitable.


While hating to disagree with such eminent people, I would suggest that when the 'far right' do rise up and rebel it will be against politicians, members of the judiciary and bureaucrats - and their common purpose in life!