Magistrates were told to send rioters to crown court, emails show

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Magistrates were urged to abandon sentencing guidelines when dealing with rioters last month because "nothing like this was envisaged", according to court documents released to the Guardian.

The text of two controversial emails circulated to justices' clerks immediately after August's disturbances raises questions about judicial independence and the use of blanket guidance irrespective of individual cases. One human rights group described the emails as "disturbing".

The messages appear to betray a sense of confusion – verging on chaos – behind the scenes as hundreds of suspects arrested for looting and violence were processed in late night emergency sittings.

The documents, written by a senior justices' clerk in the London regional office of Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), were released by the Ministry of Justice following a freedom of information request from the Guardian.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/sep/13/riots-sentencing-justice-system-emails

[joshcryer]

1. Anyone else think that The Magistrate has some explaining to do? :P

[Hassin Bin Sober]

5. LOL

[buckrogers1965]

2. We give a fair trial...

right before we hang the bloody criminals!

Sounds like a lot of cases are going to be challenged as being put in front of a kangaroo court.

I guess it could have worse, the accused could have been sent off to Guantanamo Bay as terrorists.

[Heywood J]

3. Move them along to the Star Chamber?

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[saras]

4. "nothing like this was envisaged" - WHERE DO THEY FIND PEOPLE THIS STUPID?