Thursday, March 29, 2007
Brits Move Closer to Police State; US Not Far Behind
Win some, lose some. The Brits, donkey-led to the end, have endorsed a program that supposedly will allow “problem children” to be monitored—for life.
Tony Blair, paragon of freedom and bosom buddy of George Bush, has brought out a plan that will keep files on children determined by authorities to have the potentiality of becoming criminals (good ol’ Original Sin, yup!), collect more and more DNA, and to restrict “career” criminals’ activities even after they’ve served their time.
Actually, I think Britain may be a proxy for the U.S. in this. Sound properly G.O.P.-ish.
Problem' children to be monitored for signs of criminality
By Nigel Morris, Home Affairs Correspondent
Published: 28 March 2007
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article2398873.ece
Tony Blair faced charges of taking a step further towards turning Britain into a surveillance state, after he set out plans to monitor children for signs of criminality, to allow police to collect more DNA samples, and to expand the use of CCTV cameras.
He also announced proposals to restrict the activities of career criminals after their release from prison and to review the operation of the police service.
Critics of the plan, which was published yesterday, said it was an erosion of civil liberties under the cover of fighting crime. Most controversial was a proposal to "establish universal checks throughout a child's development" to "identify those at most at risk of offending".
The tests could take place at key moments in a child's life, including the move from primary to secondary school, but it was unclear what form they would take.
Downing Street also suggested health visitors could intervene before the birth of children judged at risk of falling into a life of crime. They could regularly check on "disadvantaged mothers from pregnancy until the child is aged two", it said.
Tony Blair, paragon of freedom and bosom buddy of George Bush, has brought out a plan that will keep files on children determined by authorities to have the potentiality of becoming criminals (good ol’ Original Sin, yup!), collect more and more DNA, and to restrict “career” criminals’ activities even after they’ve served their time.
Actually, I think Britain may be a proxy for the U.S. in this. Sound properly G.O.P.-ish.
Problem' children to be monitored for signs of criminality
By Nigel Morris, Home Affairs Correspondent
Published: 28 March 2007
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article2398873.ece
Tony Blair faced charges of taking a step further towards turning Britain into a surveillance state, after he set out plans to monitor children for signs of criminality, to allow police to collect more DNA samples, and to expand the use of CCTV cameras.
He also announced proposals to restrict the activities of career criminals after their release from prison and to review the operation of the police service.
Critics of the plan, which was published yesterday, said it was an erosion of civil liberties under the cover of fighting crime. Most controversial was a proposal to "establish universal checks throughout a child's development" to "identify those at most at risk of offending".
The tests could take place at key moments in a child's life, including the move from primary to secondary school, but it was unclear what form they would take.
Downing Street also suggested health visitors could intervene before the birth of children judged at risk of falling into a life of crime. They could regularly check on "disadvantaged mothers from pregnancy until the child is aged two", it said.
