Alcohol-fuelled violence continues to be a major concern for people who want to enjoy a night out, and it does seem strange that someone who has admitted a vicious assault in a pub is just given a caution.
It is particularly concerning that the victim of the attack was a landlord, who was apparently trying to calm down drunken behaviour in his premises when he was punched in the face and left needing stitches.
At the very least, questions need to be asked as to whether this was the right decision.
As far as the victim, Michael Halsworth, was concerned, it definitely wasn’t and he has now made a formal complaint against West Yorkshire Police as a result of their failure to prosecute.
He is particularly concerned that he, as the victim, had no input into the decision not to take the attacker through the court system.
And it was only after he was contacted by a marketing company acting for West Yorkshire Police to give his feedback on how he had been dealt with that he was contacted by an officer to say a suspect had been arrested and, after admitting the attack, was given a caution.
It would certainly appear that the way Mr Halsworth was dealt with after his initial complaint was less than satisfactory.
Those who commit assaults on licensed premises should expect to feel the full force of the law, if only as a deterrent to discourage others from similar acts of violence.
That this doesn’t seem to have happened on this occasion is a cause for concern that needs to be properly addressed.
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