Quintin Jardine's blog

You knew they would, didn’t you? Magistrates and judges dealing with rioters and looters from last week’s disgraceful events are taking stick for being too tough. Hey, four years for incitement to riot in such circumstances does not seem excessive to me. Furthermore, if you rob a supermarket that’s been smashed open, or knowingly receive looted goods, then it doesn’t matter what you’ve stolen or been given, you’re a participant in the most serious civil disturbance that’s been seen in England in my lifetime, and must expect to be treated accordingly. Yes, there’s a deterrent element in this and quite right too.

I suspect that most people will agree with Dave Cameron that this is not slap on the wrist time. They’re not being heard, yet the minority are. I heard a guy argue this morning that most of these sentences will be appealed and that proceedings could clog up the court system for years to come, and offering this as an excuse for leniency. I’m prepared to bet that will never happen, for the simple reason that sentences can be increased on appeal as well as reduced. For that reason, sensible lawyers, and most are, will advise their clients not to go there. Was that counter-argument presented? Of course not, but what did you expect in an nation where media standards across the board have gone to hell in a handcart?