PUBLIC EXPECTS PENALTIES TO FIT THE CRIME

OVER the past two years, police and similar agencies have had considerable
success in detecting and charging those responsible for illegal behaviour
regarding drugs. The Government is discussing increasing the penalties for
those convicted of such behaviour.

History shows that courts have too readily accepted pleas from defence
counsel that "my client is only a gardener" relative to growing/possessing
marijuana or "my client is simply a messenger" when caught with hard drugs.

It is high time the courts reconsider their attitudes towards these pleas
and impose harsher penalties for serious offences as is expected by the public.

W.N. JUBB, Brighton