Lesson from history: Capt Hugh Pigot (1769 - 1797).

If a man decided to get drunk on a Satrurday night at sea by hoarding his tot, he expected to get a dozen lashes the following Monday; that was, in effect, the going rate. If a man deserted he knew he risked being hanged and would certainly get at least 300 lashes. But Pigot played havoc with these accepted values: he gave a man 36 lashes for desertion; nine days later another man was given only 24 for the same offence. Ten days later a man received only 12 lashes for desertion — and on the same day a man received 12 for disobedience. Thus he showed his men, on 12 March 1795, that disobedience and desertion were equal in his mind. A fortnight later he awarded one man 24 for mutiny, another 24 for disobedience, and three others 24 each for drunkenness. So the men saw they could mutiny and get only the same punishment as they would if they were found drunk. Then, a month later, a man who only attempted to desert was given the most lashes that Pigot had ever ordered, four dozen.
Pigot’s inconsistent punishment meant that the men’s sense of values was given a violent shock.

(From Dudley Pope's 'Life in Nelson's Navy')

Pigot, after one particularly yobbish and stupid incident involving the deaths of three young seamen, was hacked up with axes and thrown into the sea - still alive, apparently - by those in his care.

I like to compare that episode with this Government and some of its' officials, judges and policemen, and their future prospects. And then I have another glass of this fine wine, and calm down.

Time for the normal people to get on the magistrates board.
Any idea's how to go about it, I've got my own black cap ;-p

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CrimeJus...rate/index.htm

google is our friend........

edited to add:

Personal qualities
You don't need formal qualifications or legal training to become a magistrate.

However, you will need to be able to demonstrate six key personal qualities:

good character
understanding and communication
social awareness
maturity and sound temperament
sound judgement
commitment and reliability
Occupation
Because of the need to maintain public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary, employees in a small number of occupations (for example, police officers and members of the regular Armed Forces) cannot become magistrates.
Good character
Magistrates must command the confidence of the public, have personal integrity and have the respect and trust of others. This means that, for example, it is unlikely that you will be appointed if you are an undischarged bankrupt.

Serious motoring offences or persistent offending may be a disqualification.
Health and disability
The magistracy welcomes applications from people with disability. However, if your health would prevent you from carrying out any of the range of magistrates' duties, you may not be eligible.
What do I do next?
there are over 360 magistrates' courts in England and Wales - you can choose to sit at one near where you live or where you work There are a few important issues to consider before you apply........................

Originally Posted by mucus

Time for the normal people to get on the magistrates board.
Any idea's how to go about it, I've got my own black cap ;-p

I,ve got some 2inch Hemp Rope, can I have a Job?

Originally Posted by Poppy

...Because of the need to maintain public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary, employees in a small number of occupations (for example, police officers and members of the regular Armed Forces) cannot become magistrates...

Bloody good thing too.

There could be sense, proportion and intelligence all sitting on the Bench together then. Can't have that.

I can understand police officers not being able to become magistrates, because they already operate as part of the criminal justice system, but why would members of the armed forces be banned?

Originally Posted by Anothermedalwonderer

I can understand police officers not being able to become magistrates, because they already operate as part of the criminal justice system, but why would members of the armed forces be banned?

possibly because of ops, or because of moving from posting to posting. Although plenty of other people move around etc.

Originally Posted by Poppy

Originally Posted by Anothermedalwonderer

I can understand police officers not being able to become magistrates, because they already operate as part of the criminal justice system, but why would members of the armed forces be banned?

possibly because of ops, or because of moving from posting to posting. Although plenty of other people move around etc.

I think it's more to do with the separation of powers. The army was traditionally called out to support the Civil Power at the behest of a local Magistrate - the Riot Act was an example of the kind of situation Magistrates could call on armed force to restore public order.

Obviously, an Army Officer acting as a Magistrate had a conflict of interest and just imagine the chaos if a subordinate could use his position as a Magistrate to overrule his superior.

[quote="Recce19"][quote="blue_sophist"]

Originally Posted by Recce19

What p*sses me off is that time on remand is taken off their sentences automatically

If memory serves, it is within a judge's power, when passing sentence, to dis-allow (?) time spent on remand. Although I never saw it done.

The Judiciary seem to forget who they are working for and what their job description is

Boots