17 February 2006

Second thoughts

Chicken Yoghurt - a blog to make you think (here):

"I know this is going to sound frightfully liberal - sandal-wearing or whatever witty epithet we're using at the minute - but this kind of thing bothers me:

BBC News: 'Dog whistle' to control youths. A high-pitched "dog whistle" device is to be used by police in north Staffordshire to stop groups of nuisance youths hanging around shops.

I suppose it's cheaper than a water cannon or a barrage of rubber bullets. It's literally the 21st Century's clip round the ear - it (hopefully) won't do them any harm. Most of the news outlets are treating this as a gleefully sadistic "and finally..." story. The fact is, this is yet another of those "tough on crime" while not giving a toss about "the causes of crime". The inventor of the device was on PM on Radio 4 last night and he actually said, "...what about the human rights of the shopkeepers?" He'll go far that one, a New Labour peerage can't be far away. What about the nice children and their rights? What about the A-grade, never-said-boo-to-goose, model child sent out for a pint of milk?"


The whole thing is well worth reading.

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