4:48pm Tuesday 9th March 2010
By Michael Purton
CRIMINALS in north Kent are to be named and shamed on the police website to raise public confidence in the justice system.
Justice Minister Claire Ward launched the countywide scheme during a visit to Kent police headquarters in Maidstone yesterday.
It sees the names of recent offenders and their crimes and punishments listed on the Kent police website, and is part of a government campaign to make the justice system more transparent.
Ms Ward said: “People want to know what happens to criminals in their area once they are convicted because it shows there are consequences to breaking the law.
“We are encouraging the authorities to publish details of crimes and the punishments criminals have received, and Kent is one of those areas leading the way.”
Details of a number of offenders and their crimes were uploaded to kent.police.uk last week, with listings categorised by the area of the county where the offence took place.
For example, 42-year-old Frank Mehr is listed in the north Kent section after being jailed for 21 days by Dartford Magistrates’ Court on February 19 after being found guilty of shoplifting.
Mehr, of Priory Hill in Dartford, stole £204.56 worth of batteries from the Asda Living store in Prospect Place, Dartford, on February 5, the court heard.
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said the scheme aims to “set straight the misconception that human rights and data protection laws prevent criminals and their punishments being exposed”.
Townfield Corner in Gravesend resident Mike Cubitt has welcomed the scheme, saying people will think twice about committing a crime if they know they could be publicly named and shamed.
The 65-year-old said: “If you commit a crime people should be able to look up the details to know what you have done. It shows justice is being done.”
In August last year Mr Cubitt tackled 28-year-old Wayne Austin as he left a house he had just burgled in Townfield Corner.
Mr Cubitt’s evidence led to Austin, who lived in Medhurst Gardens in Gravesend at the time, being jailed for three years.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/trade_directory/