THANK goodness that David Cameron has had the good sense to scrap proposals by his justice secretary Kenneth Clarke that sentences for even the worst criminals be halved as a ‘reward’ for early guilty pleas.

The government is now having to live down yet another U-turn, but in this case we are heartily glad that commonsense has prevailed. The very idea that rapists, paedophiles and violent attackers should serve only half a sentence was utterly appalling.

As it is sentences for some awful crimes are too low. Let us not forget that convicts already have their sentences substantially reduced by parole. Under these crazy proposals (designed to save money but at what cost to society?) a rapist who should have had a six-year term could have been sentenced to three years and been out in under a year. Where is the justice in that?

We accept that the longer the sentence the greater the cost, but some criminals are so evil that society needs to be protected from them, preferably until they can do no further harm.

It may well be that Kenneth Clarke, who has seen better days, will get the sack at the next reshuffle. If so, we will not mourn his departure.

We have said before that, in our opinion, the majority of people have lost a great deal of faith in the justice system. Until we can see that criminals are being dealt with more harshly and victims are given far more consideration we will continue to express that view.