Drama on channel four earlier this evening and very thought provoking.

With 54% of people in Britain supporting the return of capital punishment this drama was set in a ficticios paralell Britain where the death sentence was re-introduced for murder and rape of children under 12 years old.

Thoughts ?

Interesting programme, saw little bits of it but not the full thing. I'd take the 54% stat with a pinch of salt though, research has proven that people are more motivated to vote in this kind of situation if they have a strong negative feeling, the people that dont want to see a return are more likely to have not voted.

Didnt watch the programme but anybody found guilty of serious offences against children should be sentanced to death.

There are numerous offences that i would say should still come with the death penalty. Especially in the modern world where we have advancements like DNA testing so that the proof is 100%

The only arguement ive ever agreed with as to why we dont would be if there could be any doubt. There were cases earlier in the 20th century when people were put to death and then evidence came out to clear them.

True, but then again anybody who is in the frame for such a crime is probably a wrong-un anyway so can be classed as an acceptable loss.

You plank! would you say that if it was your family member put to death for something they didn't commit, talk is cheap, and to say that someone in the frame is a wrong-un anyway is just a ludicrous statement. its because of attitudes like yours we will never have a referendum on it.

Very interesting subject, I really dont know where I stand on it tbh.

You have to look at it from every angle from the victims, offenders, judge, dury and executioner.

Is they people who I think dont deserve to be on the planet? sure but I wouldn't want to be the one who sentenced them to death or killed them.

Cant we just burn them all? just like witches

then we dont have to have any proof at all!!!

I would of thought if the death penalty came back then more people would get off with crimes as Jury's would be more inclined to return a not guilty plea due to the weight of responsibility paced upon them.

I personally feel the dath penalty is barbaric in this day and age and realistically it woud not prevent the most heinous crimes from being committed. It may stop the odd money motivated crime, shooting during armed robbery etc but in all likelihood the perpetrators of such crimes will never think of the consequences prior to committing them.

The real issue with the criminal justice system in this country is the inabilty to deal with and the inconsistency that 'petty' / less serious crimes are dealt with. The antisocial behavior and lack of respect for the police of a large element of our society seems to have is the real problem with todays society. For all the death penaly worthy crimes are abhorent they are also very isolated and in reality are not the crimes that affect us most.

Having said all of this if it was one of my own kileed / raped then i no doubt would change my point of view but I guess that is why we should let people a bit more detatched and impartial make a decision on this. The outcome of a referendum would be decided on by the Murdoch empire and how they decided it should go.

so very true.

Ok as everyone suggests that the youth of today dont really give two hoots - how about bringing back Compulsory National Service?

Get them beasted and putting into line.

String them up, its the only way to rehabilitate a f'king Paedo

why would other soilders who join for a career want to work with some people who dont want to be there?

it was hard enough when one person who was due a detachment went sick because somebody else who isn't expecting it has to cover them. ive know blokes miss there childs first birthday, aniversary and even have to cancel holidays.

people who dont want to be there would go sick or awol all the time.

and thats before we take in the places were they have to be professional and well trained because their and the people they work with lifes depend on it.

I was thinking more the lines of Front Line cannon fodder to be honest... then send in the real troops after theyve gone in.
And i know ahell of a lot of people in the forces that would welcome it, and i know this because ive only been out for 2 years.

This fella know's his onions.

I think that's a very interesting point you make about the likely hood of jury's failing to convict, impossible to prove but I do think there's something in it.

Having the death penalty doesn't appear to have done a real lot to put murderers in Texas and other US states off.

As to DNA, there's a real danger in viewing it as an all knowing panancea for justice. Yes, it is a very valuable tool, 100% reliable, not at all.