IN reply to ‘Let down by the soft judiciary’ (LT, July 6), yes the magistrates and the judges hand out sentences they know are not in any way suitable to fit the crimes that are committed.

But they have their hands tied by government legisla-tion that makes it imposs-ible for them to give out sentences they would really like to pronounce.

The reason is simple: they are told to abide by the criminals’ charter that is the cancerous and sinister Human Rights Act.

The people who promote this act come from various walks of political life – extreme left-wing activists, and in one instance a PM’s wife. They are the lily-livered, do-righters who are destroying our courts of law and judicial system all over the United Kingdom, which will eventually result in our country being immersed in utter mayhem.

Chris Eggleston, Quebec Road, Blackburn.