Former Criminal Bar Association chair: Decision to throw out rulebook on riots unjust

Paul Mendelle QC, a former chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, describes decision to throw out rulebook as 'unjust':

"The idea that the rulebook goes out the window strikes me as inherently unjust. It sets all manner of alarm bells ringing. Guidelines are not tramlines. There are guidelines and they take account of aggravating and mitigating circumstances.

"There have been rulings following the Bradford riots and Israeli embassy demonstrations that said which sort of guidelines should be followed. I don't see why [magistrates] should be told to disregard these."