THE perception that too much consideration is given to criminals and not enough is afforded to their victims is a common one.

And cases such as that of murdered financier John Monckton add to that national sense of an imbalance in the justice system.

Mr Monckton was stabbed to death in front of his wife and daughter at their London home. And yesterday it emerged that his killer, Damien Hanson, had been released from prison just over halfway through a 12-year sentence for attempted murder.

He was given a chance and he responded by taking the life of a loving husband and father.

On the same day that this heartbreaking case came to its conclusion at the Old Bailey, the Government published plans to make Jobcentres prioritise finding work for criminals.

Jobcentre workers will be targeted, through a points system, on finding jobs for ex-convicts.

We understand the need to reduce re-offending and for more effective rehabilitation. But it is hard to be confident about Government assurances that it will not lead to discrimination against law-abiding job-seekers in view of the way the targets have been set.

It would be very wrong indeed if anyone missed out on a job simply because they did not add up to the same number of points as a criminal.

The imbalance would then be completely laughable.