Third Umpire Call for Boris

[A Quiet Monkfish]

A crime is a deliberate act that causes physical or psychological harm, damage to or loss of property, and is against the law.

Johnson introduced the law under which he was served a fixed penalty notice. He paid the fine but obviously had the chance, like every other individual in the land to protest his innocence in court. He decided not to do so becoming a criminal in the process.

Amazing you have doubt. It can only be because you missed it on the news, surely!

I'm not sure, but if the punishment is a fine, then it's not a criminal act - in the legal sense.

[cyril evans awaydays]

I'm not sure, but if the punishment is a fine, then it's not a criminal act - in the legal sense.

The act is criminal. The punishment is commensurate to the act. Your response determines the ultimate punishment.

So if you don't pay your TV licence you can be fined. If you plead innocence against that fine on whatever basis at some time you will be taken to court. Yo will have the opportunity to explain your innocence. If you are found guilty you have various opportunities to appeal. If you ignore the judgement of the court if you are found guilty then the punishment increases at each step up to the maximum determined by the law you are being tried for.

It is perfectly possible to go to prison for not accepting the punishment for not paying a TV licence. It is equally possible that the UK Prime Minister could be imprisoned if found guilty of his criminal offences if the law he put on the statute book said that it was the ultimate punishment.

The law determines what is a crime. The gravity of the offence and how you react determines the punishment.

Does that make sense?