Ian Burnett on Punishment, and the Disgrace of Mohamed Al-Fayed

Double Jeopardy - The Law and Politics Podcast

In the latest episode of Double Jeopardy, Ken Macdonald and Tim Owen are joined by Lord Burnett of Maldon, the former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, to talk about punishment and the British addiction to prison.

As one of five co-authors of a significant report on the subject (published by the Howard League in September) Lord Burnett shares his insights on the need for change in our approach to sentencing, the challenges within our overcrowded prisons, and the societal implications of the current punitive system. Together, the trio explore key questions such as why prison sentences have doubled in length over the past 50 years, whether longer sentences truly reduce crime, and the impact of political decision-making on our justice system.

Ken and Tim also turn their attention to the damning allegations surrounding the late Mohamed Al-Fayed and the wider implications this case holds for the criminal justice system. This major scandal is just beginning.