Tuesday 2 August 2011

A convert?

It’s never a surprise to see the Tory MP for Monmouth, David Davies, calling for tougher something or other when it comes to treatment of convicted criminals.  And his ‘three strikes and you’re out’ call is surely something he’s said many times before.  It plays well with his target audience, I’m sure.
There was something new about the story yesterday though.  According to the Western Mail, “Wales must introduce a policy of ‘three strikes and you’re out’ to deal with the problem of multiple offenders avoiding jail” was “the warning from one Welsh MP”, i.e. Davies.
Given his past less than enthusiastic support for devolution, or for different policies between Wales and England, I find it hard to believe that he has not been misunderstood in some way, because for Wales to introduce such a policy would mean a substantial increase in the powers of the Assembly.
I’d be delighted if he really has come round to the view that criminal justice is a matter which should be devolved (although the likelihood of getting a majority in the Assembly for the sort of measures for which he is calling seems slight to me), but I won’t hold my breath.

6 comments:

maen_tramgwydd said...

“When you start to weigh it out, it’s actually cheaper to keep these people in prison.”

This statement sums up the mentality - prisons are dustbins into which people who do not conform can be dumped.

Although I'm not arguing for an abdication of personal responsibility for one's actions and the bearing of the consequences, society does have some responsibility for having created the environment in which such behaviour is exhibited.

Unfortunately the UK has a woeful record, having the highest prison population, after the US, among the western democracies.

Whether or not Mr Davies' remarks have been misunderstood is another matter, probably they have.

Nevertheless, policing and criminal justice should be devolved to the Government of Wales and the Assembly.

It was heartening to hear of Adam Price's report that Wales could have been much better off had it been independent.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2011/08/02/former-plaid-mp-s-study-claims-independent-wales-could-be-39-better-off-55578-29159201/

Boncath said...

John
Three and your out
6th July 1648 a certain Mr Le Poyer now immortalised as Pen (T) Le Poyer a small village inland of Saundersfoot drew the short er of three straws and was shot at Covent Garden

The Last man to be hanged Aug 13th 1964 and the last woman July 13th 1955
Perhaps the Tories have a cunning plan involving the number thirteen

John Dixon said...

Boncath,

I've wondered a few times what the derivation of Pentlepoir is, but I'm not really convinced that I'm now any the wiser...

It's a bit fanciful, I fear.

Boncath said...

John
Pembroke was defended during the Civil war by supporters of the Crown against the Parliamentarians
After it was taken three ringleaders were taken to London and Le Poyer who had somewhat of a colourfull past was shot. The others were released
The main route to Pembroke at that time was up the hill at Hill to Bells? Castle. Bells castle was on the site of the reservoir at the rear of Pentlepoir post office --The names Hill and Bells Castle appear on old maps but do not seem to have current usage

It was here that the news from London re Le Poyer was first received by people from the town of Pembroke hence Pen ie in Welsh Head of Le Poyer

As a final bit Pembroch in old maps is an anglisation of Pen Braich ie Top Arm /Headland( of the Estuary

John Dixon said...

Boncath,

It's a nice story, and I'd like to believe it, but this link may contain an explanation which is closer to the truth. I don't know how reliable this source is either, but Poyer was executed in 1649, and if this source is to be believed, then the name (or something like it) seems to pre-date his death.

Boncath said...

John
Agree 1649 my mistake. Note also Le Poyers farm at Templeton. Thanks for the link but I am confident of my statement