Should the Death Penalty Be Reinstated In Uk?

Question

In my opinion I think the death penalty should be reinstated for people who:
-Murder
-Rape
-Or abuse Children, if there is solid evidence
Why should tax payers be forced to keep these vile people in a cosy prison with tv's, games rooms when the crimes they have commited are appauling. These people have more money spent on their meals than an average hospital patient, its ridiculous! Then after their short spell in prison they will recieve benefits. These people should be tortured! How would you feel if a loved one was one of their victims?

Answer 1

With the state the government is in at the moment? They dont even know their head from their tail.

No way.

Answer 2

No the Death penalty has been COMPLETELY abolished in the United Kingdom in line with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998 which proscribes in law that every person, every person is entitled to the right to life, criminals included. The death penalty for capital offences of murder, as opposed to non capital offences was abolished under the Homicide Act 1957.

The death penalty continued to be a possible sentance for piracy on the high seas endangering life, arson in Her Majesty's Dockyards and High Treason against the Crown, until 1998 when the Human Rights Act came into force.

That being cleared up, I don't think the death penalty should be re-instated at all in the United Kingdom. It is an abhorrent, archaic and useless tool in the armoury of the judiciary. Far too many miscarriages of justice, vested interests and failings in DNA evidence.

DNA evidence is not a silver bullet in proving guilt in murder cases or rapes or cases of child molestation. Scientists and Forensic examiners, Scenes of Crimes Officers accept that scenes can become contaminated, cross contaminated and that DNA evidence is fallible.

Answer 3

The experience of the US with the death penalty should give you pause before thinking about using it in the UK. Here are some of the facts (all verifiable) about the death penalty, in the United States. Please take a look at the effect of the death penalty on families of murder victims in the US. At the very least, people in the UK should learn from the mistakes of the US.

Re: cost
The death penalty costs us far more than life in prison. The extra costs begin even before the trial.

Re: Possibility of executing an innocent person
Over 120 people on death rows have been released with evidence of their innocence. If we speed up the process we are bound to execute an innocent person.

Re: DNA
DNA evidence is available in no more than 10% of all murder cases. It is no guarantee that we will never execute an innocent person. It is human nature to make mistakes. It is not a miracle cure for wrongful convictions.

Re: Deterrence
The death penalty is not a deterrent. Murder rates are actually higher in states with the death penalty than in states without it. Moreover, people who kill or commit other serious crimes do not think they will be caught (if they think at all.)

Re: Alternatives
More and more states have life without parole on the books. Life without parole means what it says and is no picnic to be locked up in a tiny cell for 23 hours a day, forever.

Re: Who gets the death penalty
The death penalty is not reserved for the “worst of the worst,” but rather for defendants with the worst lawyers. Wealthy people do not face death sentences.

Re: Victims families
The death penalty is very hard on victims’ families. They must relive their ordeal in the courts and the media. Life without parole is sure, swift and rarely appealed. Some victims families who support the death penalty in principal prefer life without parole because of how the death penalty affects families like theirs.

Last of all, opposing the death penalty does not mean a person condones brutal crimes or excuses the people who commit them. I believe that the dialogue on the death penalty should be based on verifiable facts. People in the UK should make up their minds using common sense and not be led, through a wish for vengeance, to copy the United States.

Answer 4

Honestly, probably not since our government's judiciary system of appeals is modeled after England's.

Here in the USA it's active in some states, and those states end up spending more to keep inmates on death row. Appeal after appeal costs money, and just keeps pushing back the execution date. By the end of it all, it usually works out that Life in prison would of been cheaper than the enlongated stay for a death row inmate and the appeals process.

Answer 5

in the UK there have been several terrible miscarriages of justice like with the Irish . terrorists in the 1970s people died in horrific bombings in the UK and Innocent people were tried and convicted of crimes they did not commit . If it were a thing that this would happen again then No no return to death penalty. but if there were steadfast systems put in place for pedophiles to be neutered or euthanized then yes kill all child molesters

Answer 6

I think in todays society the death penalty is abit out of date, what I do think though is a life sentence should mean life and for serious offences like murder,rape and child abuse they should be in solitary confinement for LIFE

Answer 7

I think there is a need for the death penalty. I like the comedian that said "Texas put in an express lane".

Answer 8

I think hanging is murder . Do not kill means exactly that ..
Prisons should be tougher ...prisoners have far to many luxuries.
I know this involves cost in keeping prisoners . I don`t know what the answer is but it is not hanging ..

Answer 9

they still have the death penalty in UK

for piracy, treason and arson in the queens dockyard

and given the lack of pirates in british waters i think its working

Answer 10

no no no no no no no
Why is it any different from murder?
I totally see your point but the death penalty in my opinion is just as sick and inhumane and should never be allowed under any circumstance.