Let Biggs rot

I agree with Jack Straw’s decision not to let Ronnie Biggs go free. He has served, in total, a third of his sentence, and the parole board, despite recommending his release (on the grounds that he is so physically frail that he is no longer a threat to anyone), have reported that he has no remorse for his crime. Biggs took part in what became known as the Great Train Robbery in 1964, in which the driver was coshed over the head; he never worked again and died six years later. Biggs escaped from prison after 15 months, lived for decades in Brazil which had no extradition treaty, was not extradited when there was one as he had sired a Brazilian citizen, and returned voluntarily in 2001.

The fact is that if he had served his time, he would have been released decades ago. Judging by reports from his family today, his health is failing anyway, so keeping him locked up will mean he is not a drain on the public purse for much longer. Perhaps it might be true that had he committed the crime today, he would have received less than he got, but then, parole is not a right. I also strongly oppose letting people off their just deserts on the grounds of decrepitude; if someone evaded justice in their youth, and was brought back to it (or stupidly walked back to it, thinking they would get off lightly) in their old age, they should be shown no more mercy than they showed at the time.