Of course the punishment should fit the crime.

Many people think a six month jail sentence for stealing a £3.50 pack of bottled water is harsh and unfair. Councils using eviction powers against those who committed crimes is a knee jerk reaction and jail sentences for first time cyber criminals is over the top. For them these punishments were disproportionate to the crimes committed – but that’s exactly why in these particular cases the use of a sledgehammer to crack what looks like a nut is very appropriate.

First, no one needs to steal water or a pack of gum and secondly where do we draw the line. Those thefts were needless whichever way we look at them – and that’s precisely why 6 month in prison will be a lesson for the thief and a warning to others. The same applies to local authorities who want to employ stricter rules with their tenants – it’s their business and they should have the freedom to run and manage it as they see fit.

As for Jordan Blackshaw and Perry Sutcliffe – Keenan receiving a four years jail sentence for causing panic and revulsion by using Facebook to incite rioting – inciting war against the state is a very serious crime and therefore deserves an equally grave punishment.

Unlike many fellow conservatives I disagree with shutting down social media for any amount of time regardless of the reasons. Because shutting down will only temporally halt the problem and in this ever evolving cyber world we need our security services to always be one step ahead of the criminals and not succumb to them by shutting down. That’s why I believe in handing those who commit serious crimes very serious punishments. Four years imprisonment is suitable for the crime because calling for panic, revulsion and inciting unrest is equally dangerous as jihadists’ videos calling for war against the enemies of Islam.

Punishment should always reflect the crime. Rioting, looting, burning and the destruction of personal and public property are all acts of war – whether the loot is worth £3.50 or £3.5M the punishment, as the case is here, should fit the crime which is war against the community and the state.