The latest series of The Idea with Catrin Nye continues; this week she explores the theme of Crime, Punishment and Reparation. The programme ranges from how we view minor breaches of the law to how we should deal with the impact of one of the biggest crimes in history.

Professor Olivette Otele makes a powerful case for a profound approach to reparation for the damage caused to people and nations by the historic crime of slavery. Criminologist Professor Tim Newburn makes us think hard about our attitudes to parking on double yellow lines and picking up our dogs’ poo – and, in the case of more serious crimes, he argues for justice which gives greater consideration to the victims. Novelist Leslie Skase, who writes about crime in Pontypridd in the late Victorian era, says we might be surprised at how often the courts in that period tried to protect criminals from the most extreme punishment

The Idea brings us some of the best talks with a Welsh connection, and interviews with the speakers in depth about their big idea. food for the mind and inspiration for the soul.

The Idea is a Bengo Media production for BBC Radio Wales. Show less