New identity for Vanessa George

[lynbrown]

It is beyond belief that the powers that be will give this woman a new identity to live her life after she has served her sentance. Just like the parents of Baby P. I have to ask - WHY? They did wrong, let them take the consequences. Serving a few years in jail does not wipe the slate clean for people who commit such horrendous crimes. By giving these people new identities, we are saying to future criminals " Go ahead, its OK. We will give you a new life when you get out." Talk about encouraging them to be wicked!!

[hc4361]

She will still be monitored, exactly as if she weren't given a new id. It is not a easy thing to do, usually involving no contact with old friends and family, living in a totally new area and in fear of being discovered.
It has worked well with Mary Bell. The punishment is being locked away from society, not getting beaten to a pulp or worse by vigilantes on release.

[VHG]

While I dont condone the crmes they did, I would imagine, even with a new identity, spending the rest of your life "looking over your shoulder" in case someone is behind you with a knife or gun is no fun.

Now some people may say they deserve it, but in this day of the internet, snooping photographers, phones with mobile phones in them, and so on, the whereabouts of people like this will often "get out" and spread round the interent in minutes.

There would then be somebody wanting to make a name for themselves as a vigilante.

And like it or not, we cant have anarchy on the streets, with people getting beaten up or murdered because of a past crime or that someone does not like us.

If we get that then none of us is safe (I am sure we have all upset someone during our lives).

[socket2008]

If anything, giving her a new identity would stop a poor individual going to prison for life for killing her. Look at it from that point of view.

The one thing going against George (going by her pictures in the media) is her obvious weight. Unless she slimmed up she is likely to be instantly spotted.

What about George's family. Should they be given new identities? Or will those (like i saw on another forum) say that the family must have known and or are her flesh and blood and should be punished too.

[Lonnie]

Afraid I disagree that this womans family must have known, true, they may have, but I doubt it, and unless it can be proved, they should be left alone.

[lynbrown]

The identities of the two boys who murdered Jamie Bulger have been kept secret. It can be done.

[andy-hughes]

I don't think that the thought of a new identity encourages anyone to commit a crime - these people are driven by urges that the rest of us cannot understand.

Is it right to give these people a new identity? Yes - becuse it prevents the knee-jerk vigilantes from taking the law into their own hands.

As I have said many many times on AB, our laws are what make us civilised. We have a system of judgements and punishments for crimes, and when the sentences are served, and proper monitoring is in place, there is no rom for some self-righteous moron to take the ,aw into their own hands and mete out their own version of 'justice'.

Where would it end? I have a particular hatred of people who swear in the street, but the law does not alow me to stave in a stranger's head for using brusque language within my earshot. Do we all start carrying pick-axe handles for that moment in the day when someone needs to be punished for pushing in at the post office?

I am not for one moment equating these instances with the horor of the actions of these people - merely illustrating that self-righteous 'justice' leads the the suvivial of the cruelest and best-armed, and that innocent people will always suffer along with the guilty.

That is why I will always support the law - flawed as it is, it is the best system we have - and if people need protection from the unbalanced among us, then so be it.