Sunday, March 16, 2008
Targeting the children
I am more than happy to join other civil libertarians in condemning the latest half-baked idea to come out of Scotland Yard, namely that primary school children should be eligible for the DNA database if they exhibit behaviour indicating they may become criminals in later life.
Liberty Director, Shami Chakrabarti, has denounced the plan to target youngsters: 'Whichever bright spark at Acpo thought this one up should go back to the business of policing or the pastime of science fiction novels,' she said. 'The British public is highly respectful of the police and open even to eccentric debate, but playing politics with our innocent kids is a step too far.'
Chris Davis, of the National Primary Headteachers' Association, said most teachers and parents would find the suggestion an 'anathema' and potentially very dangerous. 'It could be seen as a step towards a police state,' he said. 'It is condemning them at a very young age to something they have not yet done. They may have the potential to do something, but we all have the potential to do things. To label children at that stage and put them on a register is going too far.'
Davis admitted that most teachers could identify children who 'had the potential to have a more challenging adult life', but said it was the job of teachers to support them.
What causes me the greatest sadness though is the assumption behind the proposal that children are not entitled to a second chance. One mistake, one moment of aberrant behaviour and they are on a police database for life. What sort of society is that?
Liberty Director, Shami Chakrabarti, has denounced the plan to target youngsters: 'Whichever bright spark at Acpo thought this one up should go back to the business of policing or the pastime of science fiction novels,' she said. 'The British public is highly respectful of the police and open even to eccentric debate, but playing politics with our innocent kids is a step too far.'
Chris Davis, of the National Primary Headteachers' Association, said most teachers and parents would find the suggestion an 'anathema' and potentially very dangerous. 'It could be seen as a step towards a police state,' he said. 'It is condemning them at a very young age to something they have not yet done. They may have the potential to do something, but we all have the potential to do things. To label children at that stage and put them on a register is going too far.'
Davis admitted that most teachers could identify children who 'had the potential to have a more challenging adult life', but said it was the job of teachers to support them.
What causes me the greatest sadness though is the assumption behind the proposal that children are not entitled to a second chance. One mistake, one moment of aberrant behaviour and they are on a police database for life. What sort of society is that?
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If this government is so concerned about reducing crime then why does it not use the methods which it's own figures and reports have proven ACTUALLY WORK?
Like having the police target the thugs and yobs ruining decent people's lives - longer jail sentences - more police on the street?
These are policies which have been shown, time and again, do actually work - so why doesn't the government implement them?
Because New Labour cares NOTHING about you, your children OR your family!
All they care about is getting more and more people on their lunatic databases and they will use any excuse or lie to do so!
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Like having the police target the thugs and yobs ruining decent people's lives - longer jail sentences - more police on the street?
These are policies which have been shown, time and again, do actually work - so why doesn't the government implement them?
Because New Labour cares NOTHING about you, your children OR your family!
All they care about is getting more and more people on their lunatic databases and they will use any excuse or lie to do so!
# posted by 
: 10:04 PM
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