‘Our hands were tied within the constraints of the law’

11:40am Tuesday 1st July 2008

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As part of our Voices Against Violence campaign, a former magistrate calls for the law to get tougher on violent young criminals. SCOTT MULLINS speaks to the man who is adamant when it comes to carrying knives, there really is no excuse.

WHEN he first became a magistrate, Geoff Chisholm used to tell unruly youngsters in his court to change their T-shirts and take their hands out of their pockets.

‘I think the delay in sentencing can cause problems. We sometimes had to wait weeks to make our decision.’

FORMER MAGISTRATE GEOFF CHISHOLM

Now he admits young criminals are laughing at the system.

The 76-year-old worked at Dartford Magistrates' Court for 21 years and admits the level of violence among young people is on the increase.

He said: "When I first started as a magistrate, it wasn't such a problem.

"Youngsters carry guns and knives now which they wouldn't have done in my time.

"Of course we used to get young people stand before us all the time but I am sure the problem has got worse."

Mr Chisholm, of Claremont Road, Hextable, thinks the law needs to reflect the violent nature of youth crime.

"I do think there needs to be changes to the law but it is about making sure those changes are followed through by the courts.

"Giving someone community service for carrying a knife or gun will not be enough of a deterrent in my mind unless they have a good reason.

"If the law is there to say if you get caught carrying a knife then you get three or six months in jail then magistrates must follow this through."

Mr Chisholm added: "I think the delay in sentencing can cause problems.

"We sometimes had to wait two or three weeks to make our decision but it would have been better to have done it on the same day.

"These kids walk out of court thinking they have got away with it."

He said: "The magistrates are there to be fair but firm.

"These kids should not be carrying knives or guns in the first place.

"When I worked on the bench, we were allowed to ask people to change their T-shirts if there was something offensive written on it.

"I remember telling people to take their hands out of their pockets."

Mr Chisholm added: "Things have become a lot more lax.

"The law needs to be tougher.

"There are no excuses."

The volunteer at the West Kent Masonic Charity says he was once a victim of knife crime.

Mr Chisholm said: "Someone threw a brick through my window so I chased them.

"One of them pulled a knife on me and ran off.

"He was looking for trouble.

"Kids just laugh at you now."

He added: "Even when I was working I used to be on my way home thinking have I done enough, made the right decision?

"But our hands were tied within the constraints of the law. I think this problem is the same now."