Comments on: The Observer takes a punt http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2007/01/the-observer-takes-a-punt/ The inside track since 2003 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:18:02 +0100 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Praguetory http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2007/01/the-observer-takes-a-punt/comment-page-1/#comment-1871 Praguetory Mon, 15 Jan 2007 14:10:00 +0000 http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/?p=800#comment-1871 I welcome the style and substance of the article. Has someone checked whether the Observer has been a victim of sabotage? I welcome the style and substance of the article. Has someone checked whether the Observer has been a victim of sabotage?

]]> By: Citizen Andreas http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2007/01/the-observer-takes-a-punt/comment-page-1/#comment-1857 Citizen Andreas Sun, 14 Jan 2007 15:38:01 +0000 http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/?p=800#comment-1857 Amen Mrs Ashby, it's good to hear a voice of both reason and experience on the subject. I seriously doubt that any of the journalists reporting this situation have any direct experience of how the system works or any understanding of the difficulties faced by the home office. The press and the oppostion have really been opportunistic on this story. Amen Mrs Ashby, it’s good to hear a voice of both reason and experience on the subject. I seriously doubt that any of the journalists reporting this situation have any direct experience of how the system works or any understanding of the difficulties faced by the home office.

The press and the oppostion have really been opportunistic on this story.

]]> By: Mrs E Ashby http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2007/01/the-observer-takes-a-punt/comment-page-1/#comment-1851 Mrs E Ashby Sun, 14 Jan 2007 13:07:06 +0000 http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/?p=800#comment-1851 I think that the reporting of offences committed abroad prior to 2005 when notification between member states became mandatory is wrong. Having worked in the system all EU countries were sporadic in notifying offences. The Observer's article states "sources" saying that the file is lying in the Home Office. We have to believe these sources and are left up in the air as to what the file exactly contained. The world is going mad. It is right that the EU cooperates with notification of offences by each member states citizens. We do after all have free movement of peoples throughout the union. However, this will take years to develop - we do have states that have just joined the union with unsophisticated recording of crime. We also are unable to ensure offences committed outside the EU are regularly notified despite conventions. The media are blowing this situation out of all proportion and the right wing press and opposition parties are making a meal of it. There is absolutely no fool proof system to record accurate criminal data in this country. It was not many years ago we were criticising police forces for not entering data speedily - never mind the accuracy of the data. We are now expecting the UK criminal record system to have an up-to-date record of offences committed throughout this country, the EU and if possible all countries where UK citizens travel to or reside. It is ludicrous to suggest this is achievable. We can only do our best with the information we have or receive. Further, recording of information does not stop people reoffending. The union representing Probation Officers know this but there is an anti Home Office agenda by many criminal justice agencies because of the scrutiny of their practice by that department. I really would have wished to have someone with some knowledge commenting on these issues rather than those who seek to make political points. I think that the reporting of offences committed abroad prior to 2005 when notification between member states became mandatory is wrong. Having worked in the system all EU countries were sporadic in notifying offences. The Observer’s article states “sources” saying that the file is lying in the Home Office. We have to believe these sources and are left up in the air as to what the file exactly contained.

The world is going mad. It is right that the EU cooperates with notification of offences by each member states citizens. We do after all have free movement of peoples throughout the union. However, this will take years to develop – we do have states that have just joined the union with unsophisticated recording of crime. We also are unable to ensure offences committed outside the EU are regularly notified despite conventions.

The media are blowing this situation out of all proportion and the right wing press and opposition parties are making a meal of it. There is absolutely no fool proof system to record accurate criminal data in this country. It was not many years ago we were criticising police forces for not entering data speedily – never mind the accuracy of the data. We are now expecting the UK criminal record system to have an up-to-date record of offences committed throughout this country, the EU and if possible all countries where UK citizens travel to or reside. It is ludicrous to suggest this is achievable. We can only do our best with the information we have or receive. Further, recording of information does not stop people reoffending. The union representing Probation Officers know this but there is an anti Home Office agenda by many criminal justice agencies because of the scrutiny of their practice by that department. I really would have wished to have someone with some knowledge commenting on these issues rather than those who seek to make political points.

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