New criminal offence to target violence-obsessed suspects

[bitchstewie]

Looks like steps are being taken post Southport and similar attacks.

New criminal offence to target violence-obsessed suspects earlier

Quite surprised at the apparent gap in existing laws going from that article.

[CoolHands]

What would be the point when Rudakubana for example was already a complete nightmare / nutjob and nobody helped the family deal with him (he was referred to Prevent three times, was visited by police at home for carrying a knife, was excluded from previous school for knife carrying, and assaulted a pupil with a hockey stick causing Actual Bodily Harm and was found in possession of a knife).

So the chances of someone like him actually being prosecuted for planning an act would be just somewhere just below zero.

[MikeM6]

CoolHands said:

What would be the point when Rudakubana for example was already a complete nightmare / nutjob and nobody helped the family deal with him (he was referred to Prevent three times, was visited by police at home for carrying a knife, was excluded from previous school for knife carrying, and assaulted a pupil with a hockey stick causing Actual Bodily Harm and was found in possession of a knife).

So the chances of someone like him actually being prosecuted for planning an act would be just somewhere just below zero.

That is the point as I understand it, currently there was little that could be done as he was not linked to an ideology, so agencies were not set up to deal with him. He wasn't a terrorist etc. The proposal is to not see just terrorists as the problem, but anyone who is obsessed with violence in this way.

[wc98]

The biggest problem is the care in the community approach with far too many people that are not fit to be in the community. For care in the community read care on the cheap and it is costing people their lives every year. Just recently a young bloke killed a young mother in Dundee by stabbing her in front of her child. His family had done everything in their power in terms of attempts to get him sectioned or into a secure treatment facility. They had warned the authorities that he was dangerous and all they got in return was a deaf ear.

[swisstoni]

Potentially very violent people should not be allowed out on a Community Treatment Order imho.

If we are requiring them to correctly administer their medication to avoid a possible tragedy, that’s just not secure enough.

Any benefit of the doubt should be in favour of innocent citizens who could encounter them.

[JoshSm]

bhstewie said:

Looks like steps are being taken post Southport and similar attacks.

New criminal offence to target violence-obsessed suspects earlier

Quite surprised at the apparent gap in existing laws going from that article.

Sounds like another sticking plaster offence so something is seen to be done but it really won't change a single thing vs the prior state. A favorite response of government.

A bit like all the song and dance around Prevent where resources are thrown at being seen to do something but no-one is too bothered about achieving the stated intent; far easier for all to just go through the motions.

[bitchstewie]

MikeM6 said:

That is the point as I understand it, currently there was little that could be done as he was not linked to an ideology, so agencies were not set up to deal with him. He wasn't a terrorist etc. The proposal is to not see just terrorists as the problem, but anyone who is obsessed with violence in this way.

That's how I'm reading it.

It seems slightly bonkers that there aren't already laws to deal with this sort of thing but there you go.

And if there aren't this looks a long overdue and welcome step IMO.