In England and Wales, the majority of crime victims do not trust the justice system to do its job and deliver justice. This sentiment was revealed in a survey of more than three thousand crimes. People do not believe that reporting a crime will lead to justice. Additionally, there is significant dissatisfaction with the police.
Public trust has further eroded in the past few months under the new Labour government, following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s approval of a plan to release thousands of criminals after serving only forty percent of their sentences. Many of them are violent offenders, and it is almost inevitable that they will reoffend.
Reports of excessively lenient treatment of criminals continue to erode trust. A mother criticized Starmer’s government after learning that one of the killers of her 14-year-old son, who had attacked his victims with a machete, would be released from prison after serving just 14 months. Other victims have also voiced harsh criticisms of the British justice system’s deteriorating state, as the entire system seems to be falling apart.
In modern Britain, business owners too often become victims of crime. In the case of shoplifting, it is clear that criminals know they can get away with their offenses. The inaction of the police practically gives criminals a license to commit theft, sometimes resulting in crimes with victims.
Translated and edited by L. Earth
