JUDGE LIFTED CURFEW FOR GLASTONBURY//A PERVERSE DECISION

Magistrates decisions to vary curfews for events such as impending holidays booked or special family functions often incur public criticism for their benevolence. Members of the senior judiciary have, from time to time,  reminded magistrates` benches to be cautious when agreeing to vary the terms of  a curfew order to suit the defendant whatever the reason. At the crown court where there are fewer curfews imposed judges perhaps don`t realise the implications of such decisions.  My experience sitting on appeals at crown court reinforces that impression. However HH Judge Peter Blair QC at Swindon Crown Court decided that an offender`s attendance at Glastonbury justified lifting of a curfew for that purpose.

HH decided that his offence was serious enough to demand a twelve month custody order.  He found, as so often is the case,  that that could be suspended. Surely that was sufficient leniency in such a matter?  One doesn`t need to be a hang and flog `em red faced overweight right wing Tory or  Peter Saunders of abuse victims' charity NAPAC  to find lifting a curfew in such a situation a perverse decision .  One could even be a socially aware blogger.