A Renfrewshire group protested at Paisley Sheriff Court – calling for harsher sentences to be given to those convicted of sex crimes.
Fighting Justice Against Predators, a group who expose sex offenders across Renfrewshire online, took to the town’s court calling for “tougher sentencing” for anyone convicted of a sex crime.
The group claims “far too many victims are being let down” by sentences that are “too lenient” while young offenders are being “given the jail for pettier crimes”.
Spokesperson for the group Joanne Drennan told the Paisley Daily Express victims of sex crimes are “scared to come forward” because they see other victims “failed” by the sentences handed out by sheriffs at Paisley Sheriff Court.
She explained: “Victims have their whole lives ruined and suffer trauma and mental health problems for years, so when their abuser is given a lenient sentence such as a community payback order, it’s a kick in the teeth for them. Those sentences let down the victims.
“Victims are scared to come forward with information and when they do and these people are convicted with a slap on the wrists, it sends the wrong message to other victims out there who are thinking about coming forward.
“What we need is harder sentences for anyone convicted of a sexual offences crime and to do that, there needs to be a minimum sentence for sex offenders.”
It’s not just sex crimes of a physical nature the group believe require harsher sentences, it’s also those convicted of online sex crimes such as possession of indecent images and sexual communications with children.
Joanne added: “Everything under the sexual offences category needs to be taken into parliament and sentencing needs to be higher. On a regular basis, we are seeing sex offenders walk out of this court convicted of possession of indecent images or chatting online to adult decoys.
“These people are a danger to our children but are allowed to walk in our communities whereas people on driving offences and petty shoplifting are being remanded and given lengthy sentences. That’s just not right.”
The Scottish Sentencing Council is responsible for developing and publishing sentencing guidelines for courts in Scotland. Its guidelines help judges decide on sentences for people convicted of crimes.
A spokesperson for the Judicial Office for Scotland said: “When deciding a sentence, judicial office holders carefully consider the facts that are presented to the court by the prosecution and the defence, and always take into account the unique factors of each
case.
“They carefully consider the circumstances of the particular offence, the impact on a victim and what sentence is most appropriate to help reduce reoffending and protect the public, having regard to relevant sentencing guidelines.”
Scottish Conservative leader and West Scotland MSP Russell Findlay said: “Our party has robustly stood up against the SNP’s weak justice agenda that makes excuses from criminals and betrays victims.
“We have opposed their mass early release of prisoners, opposed their weak new bail law and demanded the scrapping of perverse guidelines not to jail criminals aged under 26.
“Our party will always take the side of victims and fight for proper sentencing that reflects the seriousness of the damage inflicted by those who commit serious wrongdoing.”
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