Violence against women (Andy Holt)
When is the Sheriff Court in Lerwick going to take seriously a more measured approach to the problem of violence against women?
There have been a number of cases in recent years where the punishment has appeared derisory taking into account the level of violence involved, fear engendered in the victim and injuries sustained.
To allow plea bargaining only adds insult to injury and fines, even relatively large ones, do nothing to address the issue of the defendant’s behaviour towards women.
If drivers can shorten their sentence by attending drink awareness or safety courses why are men who are violent towards women not being both punished and rehabilitated?
Andy Holt
North House,
Papa Stour.
Jim Leask
Well said Andy. The punishment does not seem to meet the crime here, and is yet another example of violence against women being dealt with in a way which would not seem to send the correct messages to either male perpetrators or female victims.
Johan Adamson
I agree. Crimes against women must inevitably cause long term and possibly irreversible damage to the victim, and sadly even after all the bravery shown by women taking these cases to justice, assailants and bullies are free to do this again. Thank goodness there is now a register of abusers. Women please use it. We must try to stamp out all bullying and abuse against anyone and ensure the perpetrators know it is unacceptable.
Alec Macpherson
On this subject, see YES Shetland sharing on Facebook a deeply, deeply unpleasant image of sexualized violence. https://twitter.com/hedgenettle/status/659659059755356160
Brian Smith
Only an idiot would devise or publish anything like this.
iantinkler
So very typical of the online obscenities offered by SNP trolls. The comments are so typical as they’re obscene and anatomically impossible.
Haydn Gear
Whilst I totally agree with the complaints about violence against women ,it should not be not be overlooked that violence by women towards men also happens. It rarely gets mentioned —– probably a man thing. Whether it’s men against women,women against men, men against men,women against women,adults harming children or being cruel to animals it all adds up to the same thing—–a lack of regard and respect for others. Some nation states exert extreme cruelty on people said to be guilty of minor”crimes”often driven by perverse religious beliefs and we condemn them. Time for us to get our own house in order perhaps ? Even in these columns I often read angry,aggressive comments and it seems to me that there is a hardcore of a few people who enjoy being abusive to other contributors. It’s verbal violence that turns them on and we all know who they are!! No names needed. But to return to the original issue violence against women needs to be punished appropriately.Smacks on the wrist must not be tolerated or deemed to be sufficiently satisfactory.