Tokens: 15
.
But
on
reflection
,
I
do
not
consider
that
argument
decisive
.
Any
new
law
entailing
harsher
criminal
sanctions
will
affect
the
penalties
which
may
be
imposed
for
offences
committed
after
the
law
comes
into
force
,
irrespective
of
whether
the
offenders
are
recidivists
.
Obviously
,
the
Convention
does
not
prevent
States
from
taking
tougher
measures
against
certain
criminal
offences
in
the
context
of
their
policy
on
crime
,
having
regard
to
criminal
developments
and
the
need
for
an
appropriate
reaction
in
society
.
It
is
always
regrettable
that
the
criminal
-
law
system
should
become
more
punitive
,
but
that
does
not
in
itself
necessarily
entail
a
breach
of
the
Convention
(
see
,
in
this
connection
,
the
Commission
's
decision
of
9
April
1996
in
the
case
of
H.M.A.
v.
Spain
,
application
no
.
25399/94
,
Decisions
and
Reports
85
-
B
,
p.
117
,
in
particular
the
following
passage
:
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