UK Students' Opinions on the Death Penalty: A Mixed Perspective Case Study

UK Students' Opinions on the Death Penalty: A Mixed Perspective

Introduction: UK Students' Opinions on the Death Penalty: A Mixed Perspective

The death penalty can be taken as the cruellest form of punishment and this is still a very common and lawful practice in various countries. However, this can be seen from the report of Morris (2013) that this practice is no longer applicable according to the law and order in the UK. The author revealed that the practice of the death penalty was illegalised in 1998 and this process is continuing to date. In short, the whole scenario around the process of the death penalty has come to an end in the UK.

However, this can be seen from various reports that the youths, especially students in the UK, are supporting the death penalty and shouting to legalise it again. Referring to the report of Noyce (2023), a student, Priti Patale, stated that a criminal, especially one who has committed murder or rape, cannot be trusted and repeat the same crime after release. In short, the speaker revealed that the whole scenario around the illegalising of the death penalty cannot be continued and it must be reinstated. However, this can be seen from the report of the GOV.UK (2023) that the cancellation of the death penalty is a matter of dignity and reinstating it is a challenging job.

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Research Aims and Objectives

This research aims to understand the reaction of the students in the UK to matters of the death penalty.

The important research objectives are as follows:

• To investigate the factors of the death penalty in the UK.
• To understand the reaction of students to the death penalty in the UK.

Research Questions

The important research questions are as follows:

• What is the scenario of the death penalty in the UK?
• How are the students reacting on the matter of the death penalty in the UK?

Primary Qualitative Findings: Interview

The primary findings are the ones collected from primary sources and can be taken as the most authentic sources for data collection. A researcher follows a primary data collection method to gather data from sources that are directly connected with the research topic. Qualitative data is collected from open-ended questions and this helps to understand the key reactions of the focused group on a topic.

These qualitative data are collected by an interview with six students in different institutions in the UK ages 16 to 18 years. The important interview is described below:

Q 1. What do you know about the history of the death penalty in the UK?

• Interviewee 01: The most I know is that the death penalty was illegalized in 1998. It took some important steps, which made the process easier for the government.
• Interviewee 02: I read about it somewhere. The last death penalty was announced in 1964 and the whole process reformed after that. This process was finalised in 1998.
• Interviewee 03: As far as I know, a criminal was legal to be punished with the death penalty after committing more than 200 crimes, integrating violent and non-violent crimes. This process came to an end in the 19^th century, when the whole scenario changed with the alternative of imprisonment. However, the legalisation of the death penalty was officially announced in 1998.
• Interviewee 04: It was illegalised in 1998, and that is all I know.
• Interviewee 05: No. I do not.
• Interviewee 06: I am sorry but no.

Q 2. How do you think the legalisation of the death penalty will help UK society?

• Interviewee 01: Looking at the recent scenario of the UK law and order, this can be useful to reduce criminal offences from society. I agree with Ms Priti Patale on this scenario that a person can commit the same crime after completing his tenure of imprisonment.
• Interviewee 02: It is hard to tell. The social principle of the UK society can be against this cruel action. However, here we are talking about antisocial and this is confusing to answer anything yet.
• Interviewee 03: If we keep the principles and beliefs of our society aside, this will be a barbaric action. I mean, executing a person completely from society can be cruel even if the law supports it. The criminals must have a chance to correct themselves and the death penalty will never serve them this opportunity.
• Interviewee 04: The most important thing is how society will react to it. If people want to be safe and get rid of a criminal, I do not think there will be any other option the government have other than the death penalty. However, we live in a society where inclusion is a major quality. A criminal also must have a chance to be social.
• Interviewee 05: I cannot answer it yet; however, the whole factor around the death penalty was illegalised because of its cruel practices. I do not believe bringing it back will be a good idea.
• Interviewee 06: I cannot say about it. Sorry.

Discussion on the Interview

A thematic analysis of the collected answers is as follows:

Theme 01: UK students are confused about the legalisation of the death penalty.

Looking at the data that are collected from the interview, this can be said that the interviewees have different thoughts on the legalisation of the death penalty. One important factor that can be said is that some of them have the very least idea about the history of this practice and the legalisation of the death penalty in the UK. Focusing on the opinion of interviewees 04 and 05, this can be seen that they were unable to answer about the history of it. This can make them confused about the process and they cannot reach any particular conclusion on it.

Apart from that, some of the students are supporting the idea of the legalisation of the death penalty. Looking at the opinion of interviewee 01, this can be said that the students are more interested in the safety in their society and they are all right about the process of legalisation of the death penalty. However, some of the students are taking it as a necessary process for a societal approach. The opinion of Interviewee 04, can be seen that the students who are not having any personal opinion on this matter are focusing on societal matters to seek an answer. Nevertheless, few of the students are also against this practice and they are not supporting the legalisation of the death penalty. The opinion of interviewee 03 serves that they are willing to serve a criminal a second chance to be corrected and this is why they oppose the death penalty.

Analysing these factors, this can be said that the students have different opinions on the death penalty and they are looking for a proper solution to it. Some of them are not having a proper idea about the process of the death penalty and this is causing them great confusion. In short, the students have mixed opinions on the legalisation of the death penalty.

Primary Quantitative Findings: Survey

The qualitative data serves a numeric outcome on a particular topic and this helps to understand a greater outcome of the whole scenario. A qualitative survey for this research topic is described below –

Q 1. Do you think the legalisation of the death penalty will help UK society?

Looking at the survey result above, this can be seen that half of the population is not sure about the positive outcome of the legalisation of the death penalty in the UK. This can be said that they are against it and overcoming the number of people who are supporting it.

Q 2. How do you think the practice of the death penalty will be accepted in UK society?

The survey result depicted that a huge number of people believe that the legalisation of the death penalty can bring security to UK society. These people are focusing on the positive outcome of this practice.

Summarising the result, this can be said that people are getting confused about the practice and they are having a dilemma about it. The result is similar to the qualitative approach.

Conclusion

Summary

The research above shows that students in the UK have a mixed idea about the process and legalisation of the death penalty in the country. Most of them believe this will be better for safety; however, they are not sure about the legalisation of it because of its cruelty.

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Conclusion

The process of the death penalty was illegalised in 1998 in the UK. Students nowadays in the UK are having mixed opinions on the legalisation of the death penalty and they are looking for a proper solution to it. Only a few of them know about the history of the death penalty in the UK and cannot make any decision on it. In short, the whole scenario of social principles and security is making them confused and they are having a dilemma. This research report can be helpful to understand the reaction of UK students to the factors of the death penalty.

References

GOV.UK. 2023.HRC40: UK Statement on the use of the Death Penalty. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hrc40-uk-statement-on-the-use-of-the-death-penalty#:~:text=The%20UK. [Accessed on: 25/04/2023].

Morris, S. 2023.Death penalty: When did it become illegal in the UK and where is it still legal?[online] Evening Standard. Available at: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/death-penalty-law-illegal-uk-world-lee-anderson-mp-b1059110.html. [Accessed on: 25/04/2023]

Noyce, E. 2023.How Priti Patel was schooled on the death penalty by Ian Hislop live on air. [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/priti-patel-ian-hislop-lee-anderson-death-penalty-b2279112.html [Accessed on: 25/04/2023].