The Luddites weren't all wrong!

In the days when the adjoining poster was in view and well-known, the idea was that a slip of the tongue might give information to the enemy, and this would result in the loss of a ship, vital cargo and lives.

However, in the days of instant information and of politicians leaping on to instant band-wagons, and pressure groups pushing thier own points and gaining access to broadcast and print media, there is another danger. We see policy being delivered almost by demand, and never a sign of looking back to review that same legislation. We see the Dangerous dogs Act passed without even determining which dogs should be on any list, and the usual crawling legal manoeuvres to allow some obviously dangerous animal loose because, in the weasel words of the owner, "He wouldn't hurt a fly!"

So what do readers think of Lord Justice Sedley's remarks about a nation-wide DNA database, with everyone on and no-one left out, including visitors to this once happy country! On the same point, the "distinguished" judge also queried why there were a very high proportion of 'ethnic minority' DNA on the existing database! Did he totally exclude the possibility that there are more black and coloured people's information on the database because they are more likely to commit crime?

Comments

[Jon Gregory]

I wonder who put (the non elected) judge up to making this comment about everybody being on the national DNA database. It smacks of NuLab flying a kite to get the reaction. The national DNA database should be opposed, only convicted criminals records should be kept. The state is not your friend.

[David Vance]

The State is your enemy.

[The Cynical Libertarian]

Tree, rope, judge. Some assembly required.

[Peter]

This is only a matter of time. In a few years we'll have compulsory identity cards, cctv on every street corner and a nationwide DNA and finger-print database. Every vehicle will have a compuslory tracking device. And there will six months detention without trial, under "judicial supervision", but the police will be agitating for powers of indefinite detention.

The next islamic atrocity, when it comes, will give great impetus to all of the above. The one after that will end all serious argument.

[DSD]

Ah but can you imagine the Nu-Labour, ECHR version of hanging. Sentence - death by hanging from the neck until dead. The ECHR then rules that this is an indeterminate length of time and is thus illegal, so we change it to hanging for two minutes to make sure the criminal is dead. But then Government guidelines due to a lack of trained hangmen (most of the current crop being Polish) kick in and it is decreed that all the condemned should receive 'early release' from the rope to avoid having to train more hangmen, therefore the time is reduced to thirty seconds.

After this it turns out that the vast majority of the condemned have actually been advised by their lawyers to attempt to hang themselves in their cells, which means that now having swung on their own nooses for about forty seconds each (before being rescued by the guards who have been forced to triple shift because of the wave of attempted suicides) each one is automatically sentenced to Time Spent (in the noose) and let out.

[RC]

Peter,

"This is only a matter of time. In a few years ..."

rather than accepting it with an impotent shrug, how about standing on your hind legs and opposing the coming tyranny? I know it's not easy, but for evil to flourish, good men must stay silent. So come on!

[Frank O'Dwyer]

Peter, RC,

"This is only a matter of time. In a few years we'll have compulsory identity cards, cctv on every street corner and a nationwide DNA and finger-print database."

Not that it's much consolation, but none of it will work. Just look at how successful they have been with computerising anything else.

[Frank O'Dwyer]

"Did he totally exclude the possibility that there are more black and coloured people's information on the database because they are more likely to commit crime?"

The database contains the DNA of anyone who's been arrested, not convicted.

Incidentally, the US is already fingerprinting visitors.

(I landed in the USA shortly after this policy began. It was on the same occasion that I managed to slip through the US security net with several lighters, and needless to say they also forgot to take my prints. Meanwhile they fingerprinted all my companions and relieved one of them of a lighter he'd just flown several thousand miles with - obviously they were afraid that he might set fire to the country)