I’ve had a busy start to the year, heading up a Commons debate on Buncefield, several visits to hospitals as part of my work as Shadow Minister for Health and opposing the Government’s steamrollering through of amendments to its Criminal Justice Bill without giving us time to debate them.
Sentencing guidelines
In January, yet again confidence in our judicial system has been shaken. Former Metropolitan Police Inspector, Garry Weddell was found dead in the grounds of Broomhills Gun Club in my constituency. As the story unfolded it became clear that this sad case has left three children without their parents and grandmother.
I have previously written in the Kings Langley Villager about my concerns with the sentencing guidelines given to judges. In the last case, the Appeal Court did review the sentences handed out to two child rapists.
Now this new case raises questions about the granting of bail. I find it incredible that the judge has been telling the newspapers that he cannot remember the reasons he allowed bail. It is a very unusual situation to grant bail to a suspected murderer. There are two people now dead who would be alive today if Garry Weddell had not been released on bail. It is the court’s duty to protect the public, witnesses and, for that matter, defendants from harming themselves.
I’ve written to the Attorney General asking her to review the case and I have again called on the Secretary of State for Justice to review guidelines issued to judges.
We must address these important issues.
Hospital
The West Herts Hospitals Trust released its draft ‘Operational Plan 2008/9’ last month. One of its ‘key milestones’ was the closure of the A&E; and all in-patient beds at Hemel hospital on 7th October.
Kings Langley is squeezed whichever way by this – on the one hand there will be no hospital at Hemel on the other the hospital at Watford will be overcrowded and unable to cope with the demand.
It goes against all common sense. To reduce the number of beds by over 80 beds – at a time when both Hemel and St Albans have been designated as areas for housing growth is crazy.
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