Sentencing Policy (Lord Chancellor's Speech)

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Employment – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 2 May 1972.

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Photo of Mr Edward Heath Mr Edward Heath , Bexley 12:00, 2 May 1972

If the hon. Lady reads the Lord Chancellor's speech in full she will see that the balance of the whole speech was exactly on this point and that on the question of appropriate sentencing he set out the arguments and said: Excessive severity is almost always counter productive ". He went on to the other question of appeal and said what would result if there were excessive leniency. In other words, he was saying to the magistrates." These are the problems which you face and these are the considerations which you should bear in mind."