“Liza wrote " birching will never happen ... if more people were clear about the need for it - then it could'.

You would think so, wouldn't you? But the fact is Liza, that corporal punishment is banned under the European Convention on Human Rights, and Britain is a signatory to it. If we want to withdraw from it and re-introduce corporal punishment, then we'd have to leave the European Union. And no government is prepared to that.

We used to live in a democracy where - for the most part - the will of the people was carried out by their elected representatives .. not any more. Now we're ruled by a clique of unelected, unaccountable, provably corrupt, self-serving foreign bureaucrats.

NOTHING .. I repeat NOTHING .. will change for the better in this country until we are free of the EU and are once more a self-governing country.

(And I make no apologies for this 'rant' because it is the truth).”

“What a surprise - not. All of nuLabour's flagship policies being scrapped one by one, illiberal ID cards, new biometric passports, and non-value adding home information packs, speed scameras creating more bad driving habits, now ASBOs the badge of honour for the hardcore yob.”

“Observer Humberston

You say in your post that 'we all know birching will never happen'.

My response to that is 'well it should, and if more people were clear about the need for it - then it could'.

It is no use just moaning about the ifs and ands - we actually NEED a radical approach to a very serious societal problem. I really do believe public corporal punishment would be a powerful and critically effective response to antisocial behaviour from youths.

Obviously, I am not suggesting all criminals should be punished and corrected in this way, but there is a definite category where it would reap rewards.

So, politically incorrect it may be in these times...maybe the times need to change. Lets open our minds to accept the unpalatable - it will do us good.”

“Mr Copperfield wrote: "Therefore is the court system fit for purpose?"

Seemingly not!

But I have a hunch they are obliged to follow government 'guidelines' .. so if it's government policy is to go light on so called 'minor' crime, the courts will sentence accordingly. I don't know if anyone can confirm this?”

“Yes legal aid should be scrapped altoether, it would save a small fortune for the country.

Why should it need legislation for the courts to take breaches seriously, surely it is their duty to take all matters before it seriously.

Therefore is the court system fit for purpose?”

“I would like to see legal aid abolished full stop. That would save a fortune for the country in current economical climate.

Why does it need legislation for the courts to take it seriously. Surely it is the duty of the court to take all matters before it seriously.

Therefore is the court system fit for purpose?”

“(aplogies if this appears twice.. got the 'error')

Mr Copperfield wrote: "1) the courts don't take breaches seriously, 2) the good old defence solicitors are making a small fortune out of the tax payer in legal aid money and 3) the kids don't see them as a deterrant".

So wouldn't legislation *forcing* the courts to take such breaches seriously, and abolishing the legal-aid gravy train - have the desired affect?”

“Josephine, you are quite right most conditions imposed tells someone not to do something that is already illegal. However the main reason they were introduced were to deal with serious issues that do fall outside of committing criminal offences, such as neighbours who cause grief for other residents, but not commit public order offences due to the complexities of the legislation.

What the powers that be saw was an opportunity to jump onto something to say look what we're doing about anti social behaviour.

Yes scrap them because 1) the courts don't take breaches seriously, 2) the good old defence solicitors are making a small fortune out of the tax payer in legal aid money and 3) the kids don't see them as a deterrant.

The governement will need to introduce some new legislation to cover the incidents where criminal offences don't apply or else it will be back to square one!!”

“Rusty Sherrifs badge wrote " wouldn't get too excited, you don't yet know what the loonies running the pad are going to replace it with"
and Observer wrote: "It's ok getting rid of asbos, but what will replace them?"

It wouldn't have to be replaced wth anything if the Courts and CPS applied the law. Asbo's werent created to deal with any new crimes .. all the offences are already covered by existing laws.”

“It's ok getting rid of asbos, but what will replace them?

It's no good saying birch them as we all know that will never happen. The army doesn't want all the rubbish dumped on it. Build more prisions - there's no chance. So what will happen to these idiots?

A little more thought needed to go in to this move.”