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Humiliate them publicly

Violent crime continues to traumatise our society. With half-a-million criminal cases written off every year, prison occupancy at 140percent and only 3percent of cases leading to conviction, we are clearly not controlling crime.

Violent crime continues to traumatise our society. With half-a-million criminal cases written off every year, prison occupancy at 140percent and only 3percent of cases leading to conviction, we are clearly not controlling crime.

The problem lies with our constitution and bill of rights.

Praiseworthy legislation certainly, but they unfortunately only provide for fining and/or imprisonment. The current constitution applies to a society behaving in a more or less civilised manner.

The senseless violence accompanying robbery and hijacking, the raping of children and drug peddling are barbarous behaviours that will require amendment to the constitution for such crime to be dealt with appropriately.

Provision must be made for harsher punishment to serve as a deterrent.

Going back into history, we find that the displaying of criminals in public, together with flogging, worked well as a deterrent.

Public humiliation has a powerful effect not only on the individual concerned, but also on would-be criminals.

I am also opposed to the death sentence. Killing is forbidden by spiritual teachings.

The frequency of sentencing criminals to public humiliation should be reduced over time as criminals get the message.

George Malan, Barrydale

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