Should Bronson be released ?

He's admitted he can't control himself so it seems daft to even suggest it. Are the people behind the petition the usual sycophants of so-called underground hardmen and organised crime?

If he was released, I reckon it wouldn't be long before there was a real life re-enactment of Falling Down, (Michael Douglas).

I can't see him being released. He lasted only a week's out last time before ribbing a jewellers, itself a pretty nasty job, and since then his sentence has just been extended time and time again for a series assaults. He performs a useful function keeping the child molesters on their toes, and they get no sympathy from me.

Chopper Read is also a bit of a loon. Again, a penchant for robbery saw him locked up and he fancied and easier/safer log on the psychiatric wing so cut his own ears off in an attempt to get transferred. He is suspected of about 20 murders, but has never been convicted of any. All the 'hits' we're drug dealers, for whom Read seems to have a very dark place in his heart. While I don't condone it, drug dealing scum also get no sympathy from me when they get fingered.

No one admires either - I certainly don't, but that doesn't make either individual any the less interesting. Read seems to have at least partially reformed, though he still has suspicious brushes with the law. He contracted hepatitis in prison and a few years ago turned down a liver transplant as he felt it should go to someone more deserving than he- an admirable sentiment. He now writes quite entertaining crime fiction. Nevertheless, he's thrown away much of his life and it as a sad waste of a clearly intelligent, if calculating and perhaps also sociopathic, human being.

I earned the nickname as the villainous element of my old be a used to idolize Read and noticed the uncanny resemblance between he and I, although I am instantly recognizable by the presence of ears.

He lasted only a week's out last time before ribbing a jewellers

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What did he rib him with? A particularly vicious strain of satire or irony? All getting a bit Piranha brothers for me...

Chopper1192":x3x728fg said:

I earned the nickname as the villainous element of my old be a used to idolize Read and noticed the uncanny resemblance between he and I, although I am instantly recognizable by the presence of ears.

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Thanks for the explanation - I'd naturally assumed it was your first Raleigh and the gearing needed to get it moving

I think those who have done such harm in society should earn their release. Bread and milk unless you work your bo**ocks off and then you can have cornflakes (or maybe Frosties)

Jon Venables gets out today :evil: I guess the rule book has been torn up and burnt

Jebus - the daily mail brigade is out in force again. Like it or not prison's purposes in society is not only to punish but to rehabilitate. Whilst bronson is the exception that proves the rule everyone be they burglar, murderer, rapist or Paedo's needs to be given the chance to prove (repeatedly if necessary) they are fit to join society again.

Having an ex-con paying taxes rather than draining our taxes at an extortionate rate whilst in prison makes sound economic sense. It also offers something that can be priceless in helping cut re-offending hope - take that away you would have a lot of dangerous people with nothing to lose.

Bear in mind I think the UK re-offending rate is something like 25% put another way that means 75% learn their lesson and do their time putting their past mistakes behind them. Everyone no matter how heinous their crime deserves the opportunity for redemption. The minute you start creating a sliding scale and saying some crimes are beyond the pale you start down a very slippery slope. Remember that the point of the justice system is to deliberately separate the accused from mob justice and to keep the rule of law. Like it or not society is bigger than anyone victim - and the more we support knee jerk laws - especially based on tabloid mock outrage the worse this country will become.

The third purpose of prison is to protect the public from dangerous and/or persistent offenders. While they're inside the public are safe from them. Venables has already breached his life-licence 3 times. What does he have to do to get properly locked up? Quite a pertinent question as a third of murderers murder again after their release, and a ninth murder again twice. Venables has.murdered and seriously sexually assaulted once, keeps breaching his licence including the viewing of kiddie porn, yet still the authorities grant him yet another identity and spend a relative fortune keeping him at large the public in danger, when for a lot less cash they could keep him locked up and the public safe.

keep him in till death.