New call for tougher sentencing

Jun 1 2006 By Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

TOUGHER sentences for criminals would help the public feel safer on the streets, a new survey has revealed.

And people believe that crime is more prevalent than it really is, according to the results of the MORI survey carried out for the West Midlands Criminal Justice Board.

Yet despite an inflated fear of crime, confidence in the criminal justice system is on the up, the survey found.

That finding is seriously at odds, however, with the scores of outraged Birmingham Mail readers who felt the system had failed when Jaswinder Singh, the hit-and-run killer of Abigail Craen, was jailed for just 18 months.

The MORI survey saw 1,000 West Midlanders asked for their views on crime and the criminal justice system.

The last survey on the issue was carried out five years ago and researchers were anxious to see how views on

crime and punishment may have changed. As in 2001, young people hanging around the streets is the most common problem for fed-up residents, followed by car vandalism and theft.

David Shaw, Assistant Chief Constable at West Midlands Police, said: "This survey highlights the progress made since 2001, but there is still a long way to go.

"The board is determined to address the gap and take positive action to achieve the needs of our local community.

"Improving the experience for all users of the criminal justice system is vital if we are to build confidence and change perceptions around delivering justice."