It was fifty years ago today that we had our last execution. Two men hanged at the same time in different prisons for the same crime.

In terms of how civilised "civilised" is, the trial began in June and by August it was all over. The actual execution, from the hangman entering the cell to death was just over 10 seconds. (A wardrobe in the cell was actually a door to the chamber.)

If we have to bring humanity into it, them compare us fifty years ago with USA today, making them wait years followed by thirty minutes of agonising pain.

Anybody under the age of fifty in The UK has always lived in a civilised society by that particular measurement.