RADICAL PENAL REFORM IN U.K.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31231, 1 December 1966, Page 17

RADICAL PENAL REFORM IN U.K.

(N.Z.P.A. -Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, November 30.

Majority, instead of unanimous verdicts, by 7 England’s 12-man juries and complete abolition of corporal punishment are included in the most far-reaching penal reforms for 20 years announced in London yesterday.

Other reforms listed in a Government bill to go before Parliament soon include restrictions on press reporting of certain preliminary hearings, more finger-printing, introduction of suspended sentences, and tightening of the firearms laws.

Drunken drivers will no longer be sent to prison if suitable places are available for treatment.

This, together with heavier fines, is part of a general move to relieve pressure on Britain’s overcrowded prisons, where about 6000 men sleep three to a cell.

The Home Secretary, Mr Roy Jenkins, is ignoring criticism of his intention, announced last August, to allow majority verdicts. One reason is to thwart growing attempts to bribe and threaten jurors.

Another is to save the Courts’ time by eliminating retrials if one juror, whether through conviction or obstinacy, disagrees with the other 11.

Scotland, which has its own legal system, already has the majority verdict system. Majority Decision In Mr Jenkins’ bill, the majority must be at least 10 to two in a normal jury of 12.

Shotguns will be brought under stricter control after a public outcry against their

' use in hold-ups and killings. Other types of guns are already controlled by firearms regulations. The corporal punishment issue was highlighted recently when an imprisoned murderer was sentenced to be birched

for a violent attack on a warder. Mr Jenkins refused to confirm the sentence. Corporal punishment was abolished in 1948 for all crimes except mutiny in prison and attacks on warders.

Press Reports

Another important decision is to limit the press reporting of the preliminary hearings of cases which go to a higher court for trial.

Sometimes a defendant who does not want to disclose his defence in the lower court has to suffer the full publicity of the prosecution’s accusations.

The press will be limited to reporting the bare facts of the committal for trial. The restriction will not apply if there is no committal.

Magistrates will be able to authorise the police to fingerprint anyone over 14 accusat of any offence punishable b” imprisonment. At presen they can finger-print only persons actually in custody. Palm Prints The police will also be able to take palm prints—an innovation which they say is of increasing value. Another move to keep down the prison population, now nearly 30,000, is a new system of enforcing fines. At present many defaulters are sent to gaol. But Magistrates will be able to ask firms to deduct the money from » man’s wages.