CRIME, COMMUNITY AND CREEPING CONSEQUENTIALISM

In his recent article,(1) Charles Pollard has presented a case in favo ur of several changes to the English criminal justice system. My aim h ere is to argue for a different emphasis. Whilst I agree that there re mains a need for a fundamental reappraisal of our approach to criminal justice-a need recognised for many years, but not satisfied by the re port of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice-I suggest that we sho uld be fully conscious of the history of the matter, clear about the v alues to be upheld, and clear about the dangers to be avoided. My task in this article is not to develop ''solutions'' or alternative propos als,(2) but to challenge common arguments, some used by Pollard, some used by others.