YOUR report on criminals in the London area being given police cautions (Thousands of criminals cautioned", The Herald, July 22) presents a somewhat negative view of an important part of the justice process which, if properly implemented, makes a good deal of sense.
The point which needs highlighted is not the rather populist notion that "criminals are getting off with crime", but that the available alternatives - for example, fines and cautions - are less than effective either as punishment or as promoters of changed behaviour.
North of the Border, Apex Scotland is one of a number of agencies actively working with the Government and justice agencies to develop meaningful alternatives to automatic referral to an already clogged-up system.
The objective is to find an approach which makes a person less likely to offend. It is to be hoped that this ambition will be understood and supported by all those looking toward a fresh vision for Scotland.
Such a vision is one which protects its citizens but does not base its justice system on armchair principles of retribution at the expense of genuinely tackling the problems.
Alan Staff,
Chief executive, Apex Scotland,
9 Great Stuart Street,
Edinburgh.
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