Wednesday, November 15, 1972
More and more emphasis, he said, was put on the needs and the
rehabilitation of the offender, rather than on the legitimate protection
of the interests of the community.
Mr. Roberts continued: "It is a matter of regret that the time
has come for us to take a harsher view.
"I have no doubt that the confidence of the public is more
important than the rehabilitation and the personal circumstances of a
particular offender."
Mr. Roberts said the mandatory sentence or detention order, as
well as the stop-and-search power, will be provided in amending legislation
to be submitted in the near future to the Governor in Council for approval.
In addition, he said, it is proposed to move a resolution so as
to add the offence of possession of an offensive weapon to those in relation
to which a sentence of imprisonment may not be suspended.
The object of the amendment is to try to prevent the carrying of
offensive weapons, but if it fails in this, it may be necessary to consider
introducing minimum sentences also for robbery or serious assaults.
He said the possible re-introduction of rigorous imprisonment for
people convicted of crimes involving violence aims at bringing about a
tougher and more exacting prison regime than is applicable to other prisoners,
but it depends mainly on the availability of buildings and prison officers.
Referring to the system of preventive detention, Mr. Roberts said
detention of this nature was in force in the United Kingdom for nearly 20 years
after the war, providing that a person who had at least three previous convictions
on a serious offence and who had undergone at least two custodial sentences,
could be ordered to be detained as "habitual criminal" for between five and
14 years.
The proposed