§ 57. Sir C. Osborneasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that crimes known to the police in England and Wales rose to over 1,000,000 for the first time in 1964 and that the policy of reformation rather than punishment of the criminal has failed, if he will now institute sterner punishments for all crime, especially crimes of violence which rose by nearly 17 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir F. SoskiceI have no reason to think that the maximum penalties prescribed by law for crimes, and in particular crimes of violence, are inadequate. It is for the courts to decide what penalty within these maximum limits ought to be imposed in particular cases.