Penalties in England task 4. Read the text and examine the chart.

In England there are no maximum sentences, except for murder, which carries a penalty of life imprisonment. There are minimum sentences for other crimes. Crimes are first heard by a magistrate who can either pass sentence, or refer the crime to a Crown Court with a judge and jury. Here are maximum sentences for some crimes. Sentences can be reduced for good behaviour, often by one-third or more. "Life sentences" are rarely more than 14 years, and it would be possible to release prisoners after 7 years.

Crime	Magistrates' Court		Crown Court
	Fine	Prison	Fine	Prison
Burglary	£1000	6 months	unlimited	1 4 years
Grievous bodily harm	£1000	6 months	unlimited	5 years
Possession of firearm	£1000	6 months	unlimited	5 years
Possession of cannabis	£500	3 months	unlimited	5 years
Common assault	£200	2 months	–	–
"Going equipped for stealing"	£1000	6 months	unlimited	3 years
Murder	–	–	life imprisonment

Task 5. These are the general types of punishment in England. Give a Russian equivalent for each of them. Which of these punishments exist in your country? Discuss this in your group.

Prison

Suspended sentences: the offender does not go to prison unless he or she commits another offence;

Probation: normal life at home, but under supervision;

Youth custody in special centers for young adults;

Short disciplinary training in a detention center;

Community service: decorating old people's houses, etc.;

Compensation: paying, or working for, one's victim;

Fines: the punishment in 80 per cent of cases;

Disqualification from driving;

Fixed penalty fines: especially for parking offences.

Task 6. Work in pairs and discuss the following.

1. Which punishment do you think is appropriate for each of the following crimes?

(a) murder of a policeman;

(b) vandalizing a telephone box;

(c) drinking and driving, without causing an accident;

(d) robbing a supermarket with a gun;

(e) stealing goods from a shop ("shop-lifting");

(f) parking a car illegally.

2. Match these actual sentences from British courts with the crimes in question 1.

(a) five to ten years in prison;

(b) a small fixed penalty fine;

(c) life imprisonment;

(d) a £400 fine;

(e) a £200 fine and disqualification from driving;

(f) 100 hours of community service.

3. Turn to the list of crimes. Try to find the proper penalties for those crimes. Discuss which of you is the harsher judge?

Unit V.

The world of crime

Bank Robbery

Task I. Look at this picture and read the text.

Do you know this robber?

Photofit of the suspect

Police are searching for a man who is wanted for questioning about a string of burglaries in the Manchester area, which they suspect may be connected.

In the first of two recent incidents, a man tied up a woman in her, own house in the early hours of the morning and escaped with goods valued at around £2,000. They included items of jewellery, a stereo, a video recorder and a colour TV set. She managed to free herself, unhurt, after he fled. She described him. as white, around 5'8", in his iate twenties, well-built, clean-shaven, with a pointed nose and straight dark hair.

Two days later a man wearing a stocking mask brake into a factory in the same area and got away with cash of around £3,000. A man fitting the description above was later seen driving away from the scene in an old blue Escort van.

Police warn that this man could be armed and therefore dangerous. They have issued the photofit picture above and ask the public to contact them immediately if they have any information.