The Footballer and the Social Network Site

A Championship footballer with a Twitter account decided this morning to offer his followers a brief Q & A session before heading off to training.

I don't mean to be disingenuous, but I am pretty certain that this player honestly believed that he would be asked questions like "who snores the loudest on away trips" or "what is your favourite flavour Monster Munch". Despite this player's performances being under par, in spite of his recent spate of goals, in an average Championship side, I would happily wager that he did not expect questions relating to his form, the form of his team-mates, and further, that of his team.

Which is a pity, because those are the kinds of questions that he did get; some from genuinely concerned supporters, some maybe tinged with sarcasm. Needless to say, those questions went unanswered, and in fact, were retweeted, probably under some misguided notion that the player felt "picked on".

Footballers are not like us ordinary folk. They lead sheltered lives, to an extent, and then use their status to live the kind of lives us mere mortals can dream of. Footballers of even a modest level can hide behind their clubs, their agents, and various PR people. Social networking can seem, to players and fans alike, a great way of engaging with each other, but it is also presents potential problems. Time and time again, some footballers have shown that despite all of their training and advice, they are not able to engage constructively with members of the public.

If this player did not want to answer questions relating to his and his club's on-field performances, he could have avoided it by adding a simple caveat to his initial invitation.

If he had inadvertently omitted to do this, he could have tweeted after receiving awkward questions, that he could not, or was not able to discuss these matters.

However, by retweeting those questions without a reply, he has made himself out to be a victim, whether intentionally or not, and set genuinely concerned fans, who will be with his club long after he has left, up to be abused.

Not a great way of dealing with fans who are already struggling to justify his inclusion in their team's line-up.

When decisions of the European Court of Human Rights aren't reported

It is a well reported "fact" that foreign criminals are permitted to stay in the UK despite their convictions. MP for North-West Leicestershire, Andrew Brigden has raised the concerns of some his constituents to the Minister of State for Immigration.

Maybe he should direct those concerned to this latest decision by the European Court of Human Rights, where a Pakistani national has failed to prevent his deportation. A decision that, interestingly, hasn't yet made the news, well, not online in any case.

As the Bubble disappears...

...and as Hampshire police congratulate themselves on a relatively trouble-free Sunday afternoon, we will never know if the early kick-off, or if the fact the vast majority of football fans want to support their teams without resorting to yobbish behaviour would have been the winner today.

One thing I'm fairly certain of is it gives the powers that be more justification to interfere with the civil liberties of law-abiding football supporters, who make up the majority of those attending matches.

Watching football is not a crime.

Youtube racist tram woman released on bail

I've been ill over the last few days, but I noticed last week that the "racist tram rant woman", Emma West, was released on bail, as reported by the BBC.

I have read comments on various social network sites, and on forums expressing outrage that this woman has been locked up, whilst others have been allowed to walk. It's worth explaining that she had been remanded into custody for her own safety, following a plea before venue hearing on 6th December 2011. 

The news of her release has been muted in comparison to the reporting of her remand into custody. Either the media are concerned for her safety, and have decided not to go over the top with this news, or the story does not fit in with the agendas of certain publications.

Ms West is due back in court in the New Year, where she will be committed to the Crown Court for trial. It's worth pointing out to anyone reading this who doesn't understand court procedures, or hasn't followed the story in full, that she has chosen trial by jury. By indicating a "not guilty" plea, the magistrates have deemed the matter suitable to be tried in that court, where sentencing powers are limited. All defendants in this position are then given the choice to be tried in that court, or to have the matter dealt with in the Crown Court.

Statistically, there is more likelihood of an acquittal by jury than by magistrates, however if found guilty, the penalties could be more severe.

When court reporting falls short...

Another report in the Leicester Mercury, featuring the same Judge as in this post.

For the benefit of the lay person, a Plea In Mitigation is used to ensure that the appropriate sentence is given based upon the circumstances of the offence committed along with those of that particular defendant. If you are acting for a defendant, you are hoping to secure the most lenient sentence for your client. Bear in mind that advocates are acting on instruction from their client.

Reporting of sentencing hearings can fall woefully short, as seen in the earlier hearing. However, it's clearer from the later report that the defendant had previous convictions, and the Judge believed that he posed a risk. 

This isn't a new problem; sometimes, there can be outrage that a sentence is too high.

Media reports need to be taken at face value; ask what has not been reported, before questioning what has been reported.

When Neuroscience met Law

Findings by The Royal Society have shown what parents have known all along; it can take up to the age of 20 for the parts of the brain that govern our judgment and decision making ability to fully develop.

When considering the arguments for and against raising the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales from the age of 10, physical development of the brain is not enough to decide if and when a young person should be held accountable for their actions. Environmental factors, most importantly, the role of parents and the wider family, or even community, can also have a significant impact on whether or not a child acts outside of the criminal law. If children are so susceptible to making decisions mean that they commit crimes, then why do most children manage to stay on the "right path"?

Most children by the age of 10 know the difference between right and wrong. I've read comments that this is not enough in itself to make children criminals. To an extent this is true; however it is a starting point, and one factor to be used. In 2010, the Children's Commissioner, Maggie Atkinson reported to the Government that under 12s did not fully understand their actions. I can remember being 12, even younger, and I can remember some children were very adapt at manipulating adults. Overhearing teenage conversations can be a real eye-opener as to what to say and what not to say to parents or teachers.

Whilst these findings are interesting, caution should be exercised in how they are applied. Children develop at different rates; plenty of adults don't make the right choices at times. There is a danger that unavoidable excuses are being provided, and that this could detract from the real reasons why children commit crimes, such as poor or irresponsible parenting, gang culture and peer pressure, and problems with society in general. Brain development is one part of an important jigsaw.

As the Muslim Girl Gang saga rumbles on...

I have been doing a bit of digging.

Last week, I wrote about a case in my home town of Leicester, which has sparked off debates on Twitter and Facebook, and to other blog posts, some of which are blatantly racist and pandering to an agenda.

Without going into the details again, many people are saying that no white girl would be "let off", and that she would be facing a jail term.

It's difficult to find a story that proves that white women are don't always receive an immediate custodial sentence. Sadly, there are many cases being processed through the criminal justice system involving alcohol-related violence; you just need to visit to the local Magistrates' or Crown Court to see this. Not every case is reported in the local media, let alone the nationals.

But I did find this story, from 2009.

Imagine the scene; a 16 year old girl has been out drinking. She is carrying a vodka glass. She gets into an argument with some other girls, and hits one of them in the face with the glass. The other girl receives injuries that required medical treatment, including stitches.

Is this an immigrant? Or someone, who because of her religion, that isn't used to drinking?

No. This is a white girl, in fact, a pretty, white girl. Like the Muslim girls causing scandal, she received a 6 month suspended prison sentence, despite having the added aggravating factor of using a weapon.

This story had passed me by, in all honesty. It's very easy to get blasé about drunken yob culture. It also appears to have passed everyone else by, as there are no comments on this story calling for this girl to actually serve the sentence handed to her. There isn't a petition either, urging the powers that be to review the sentence. The Telegraph also reports this incident, as well as The Mirror, in an article condemning the behaviour of young, drunken females. This includes another young woman given a suspended sentence after using a stiletto heel to stab someone.

In fact, the purpose and the tone of the article is to warn against the dangers of drinking, and the damaging consequences getting drunk can lead to. Again, the article doesn't go into the full reasons why that particular Judge decided to suspend the sentence, but it's a sad day when I have to take the time, trouble, and effort to find an example to show that it's not just minority groups given the benefit of the doubt in this country. The uproar surrounding the incident in Leicester smacks more of stirring up racial tensions than of shock, sadness, or surprise that girls from a religious group that normally shun alcohol have actually fully integrated into British society by drinking to excess and brawling.