Or of course there could be the view that no matter how suspicious the results looked people could believe them because of their prejudices?? I don't think that anyone has any faith in any figures from any Government any more
Scotland is an interesting point Jacqui, as yes the Legal System is different and many would argue better. ( I saw for myself how good the Education system was as all my Grandchildren jumped a grade when they moved from Edinburgh to Chester!) I have always loved the verdicts, Guilty, Innocent and NOT PROVEN! I love that, everyone knows you did it but we cant prove it! I remember Lord Denning (former Master of the Rolls -- the most senior Judge), in saying that he was opposed to sentencing rules being subject to offences and government rules, as he felt his job was to see that Justice was done, and that isn't possible when you cant give a lenient judgement or a very harsh one based on the crime and evidence.
But Justice having been done, if it has, then do we want to reform the Prison System, and if we do, are we willing to pay for it? Perhaps the reason we lock up more people than anyone else in Europe stems from the fact we are the most badly behaved, dishonest Country in Europe, and our system creates hardened criminals rather than rehabilitating the minor offender? Perhaps our Prisons should advertise like Universities do, (those colleges of Further Education and Polytechnics that call themselves that these days), only instead of "the best for Physics" it could be "Where housebreaking is an Art"??
A lot of interesting views, shall we have a Poll??
1st Baron of Wem excluded for Voting of course!