On 29 July, three children were killed at a dance class. As rumours spread on social media, a childminder called Lucy Connolly began posting messages on X. She called for her 10,000 followers to "set fire" to the hotels housing asylum seekers and for "mass deportation now".

Last week, Connolly was sentenced to 31 months in jail for stirring up racial hatred. The judge, Melbourne Inman KC, said the sentence was intended to "punish and deter".¹

Many who witnessed the riots that followed these killings will support tough sentences. But others will wonder how fair the Lucy Connolly judgement when compared with other crimes.

In America, freedom of speech is protected by the ConstitutionA document that sets out the fundamental rules according to which a country is governed, which are usually difficult to change.. According to the conservativeHolding traditional values, and in a political context, favouring policies such as private ownership. campaigning organisation Standing for Freedom, sending someone to prison for a tweet is "authoritarianEnforcing strict obedience to authority.".²

Others argue that sentencing is inconsistentNot staying the same throughout, or changing one's mind a lot.. The environmental protestors whose action forced the closing of the M25 in November 2022 were given up to five years in jail. According to one poll, 61% of the British public thought this sentence was too harsh.³

This is even more obvious when you look at the crimes where the offenders were never jailed, such as repeated thefts and sexual offences. According to the think tankA research organisation focusing on a certain topic, such as climate policy or education. They often produce information used by businesses, governments and big organisations. Policy Exchange, this includes the "prolificProducing a large amount of something. " criminals responsible for nearly half of all convictions.⁴

On the other hand, Britain's prisons are already full. There is also a backlog of offenders awaiting trial, which puts even more pressure on the system.

Judges explain their reasoning before sending anyone to prison. Those judgements are available online, yet few people bother to read them. From the outside, jail terms can be confusing, but justice is about more than public opinion.

Is British sentencing fair?

Yes: The public supported harsh sentences after the summer riots. Prison overcrowding is caused by a lack of state funding, rather than the legal system.

No: Repeat offenders, including people who commit shocking crimes, still avoid time in prison. Meanwhile, peaceful climate activists can spend as much as five years in jail.

Or... Sentencing can be complicated and confusing. That is why cases should be considered individually and judgements should be read before any conclusion is reached.

Constitution - A document that sets out the fundamental rules according to which a country is governed, which are usually difficult to change.

Conservative - Holding traditional values, and in a political context, favouring policies such as private ownership.

Authoritarian - Enforcing strict obedience to authority.

Inconsistent - Not staying the same throughout, or changing one's mind a lot.

Think tank - A research organisation focusing on a certain topic, such as climate policy or education. They often produce information used by businesses, governments and big organisations.

Prolific - Producing a large amount of something.