Recent Book: Motor Vehicle Technical Regulations
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X8505800319 |
| Published date | 01 July 1985 |
| Date | 01 July 1985 |
| Subject Matter | Recent Book |
paragraphs which facilitate the necessary cross-referencing. There isa limited use of
flow charts which are complex, but somewhat ineffective because of the limited
area of reproduction and size of print.
In all, this is generally an impressive book which will be most useful to those in
any way involved with the implementation of the new legislation. T. DEMPSEY
c. C. TOYNE:
Motor
Vehicle Technical Regulations (Third Edition).
Liffon Engineering Services, Northwood, Middx.
Acomprehensive guide to the Construction and Use Regulations and the Road
Vehicle Lighting Regulations.
A wellcompiled book which has not been over simplified and still manages to
make the more complex subjects understandable. However, because of the
simplification, there are areas which can be misleading to those seeking to conform
to and enforce that particular legislation.
To summarize, this book is an attempt to condense these vast and complicated
subjects into a manageable source of reference. However. a problem with this type
of publication is
thatit
quickly becomes out-dated as amendments to the
regulations are passed. R.B.
COUNCIL ON TRIBUNALS: Annual Report for 1983/84.
London: HMSO. £5.85.
Disruption and disorderliness which has marred some important public inquiries in
recent years has caused the Council concern. The vast majority of public inquiries
are conducted in an entirely sensible way by all concerned, even when views are
expressed strongly. However, the Council know of seven different inquiries being
disrupted in the 1960's,including those relating to the Archway Road and the
North Circular Road in London.
The conduct of persons involved may be rowdy or even fall not far short of
physical assault. The task of the Inspector, the organizers of the inquiry and those
involved in the proceedings. is made almost intolerable. Three Inspectors for the
two road inquiries mentioned above resigned at an early stage in the' proceedings:
harassment even extended to the family of one of them. The misconduct adds
greatly to the length and cost of any inquiry, and can also discourage some of those
who wish to give evidence. There is a danger that the inquiry system itself could be
brought into disrepute. The Council say that the rules and procedures should be
improved but they think the criminal law also needs changing. NICOLA LAKIN
HOME
OFFICE: Prison Statistics England and Wales 1983.
London: HMSO. £10.85.
If
the "clear up rate" is the yardstick of police efficiency then the reconvtction rate
of men and women discharged from various custodial units must be the measure of
the efficacy of the prison service to reform law breakers; in which case the picture is
bleak. Prison Statistics reveal that 60% and 41% of men and women, respectively,
were recriminated within two years ofdischarge in 1980.Borstal training for the
male 15-16 age groups had the highest re-conviction rate - 81%. For females. the
highest rate was for young prisoners - 54%.Such data reveal a bleak picture and
raise yet again the issue of the value of custodial sentences.
The need to impose realistic fines and streamline arrangements for their
collection isunderlined by the realization that fine defaulters accounted for 25% of
those who were received under sentence by the prison service. In the United States
Court Administration Offices open 24 hours a day including Christmas Day for the
payment of fines. Payment by credit card is not unusual! NICOLA LAKIN
276
lull'
1985
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