Sunday, 16 March 2008
We Can Put Them On The Database For You Wholesale
Extraordinary:
Primary school children should be eligible for the DNA database if they exhibit behaviour indicating they may become criminals in later life, according to Britain's most senior police forensics expert.
Gary Pugh, director of forensic sciences at Scotland Yard and the new DNA spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said a debate was needed on how far Britain should go in identifying potential offenders, given that some experts believe it is possible to identify future offending traits in children as young as five.
'If we have a primary means of identifying people before they offend, then in the long-term the benefits of targeting younger people are extremely large,' said Pugh. 'You could argue the younger the better. Criminologists say some people will grow out of crime; others won't. We have to find who are possibly going to be the biggest threat to society.'
Every time I worry that making references to Orwell is hopelessly overblown and likely just to turn people off, these bastards find a way to up the ante. But, as Tim points out, there is a slightly more up to date cultural reference at work here. And even in Philip K Dick's story, the three "precogs" weren't always able to agree on the identity of the perpetrators - hence the title, "The Minority Report".
Anyway, where do you draw the line? If you're identifying the "biggest threats to society", are there any factors that you don't feel comfortable using to pre-screen children? Why don't we just put all black people on the database, Gary? What's that? You're already doing that? Well, isn't that nice. How inclusive of you. No second-class citizens here.
How about sticking all Muslims on the database? That'll do wonders for community cohesion. Perhaps Premiership footballers might have DNA swabs taken after matches as part of a high-profile advertising drive. The next time some unfortunate slapper is gang-banged in a London hotel, you'll track down the culprits in no time.
Or, if we're recording the DNA of people who are, statistically speaking, more likely to commit crimes than the average man on the street, why don't we start with everyone who wears a police uniform and every MP who voted for this shit. And, for good measure, their kids, too.
Labels: Civil liberties, Nu Lab, Police
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This sort of stuff just takes your breath away...I want to take my family and run..it's pure poison !
and it reminds of how policemen and scientists promised Hitler how they could identify Jews in the 1930's.
The infamous Jewish profiling.
Just what kind of country do we now live in. The sooner the Army step in the better.
The infamous Jewish profiling.
Just what kind of country do we now live in. The sooner the Army step in the better.
Incredible how people like Mr. Pugh weren't screened out at an earlier age!
Perhaps he should be awarded a trip to Snowdonia for dreaming up such a nightmare?
Perhaps he should be awarded a trip to Snowdonia for dreaming up such a nightmare?
How come they can propose putting all this effort into 'preventing' crime when they are clearly unwilling to expend effort on catching current criminals?
Can you see some government agency being capable enough to positvely affect the lives of their 'clients'? It will be one long excuse about there being no places available, or not enough money for trips to Disney Land, or to be blunt, middle class social workers not being willing to tackle rough families on sink estates.
Can you see some government agency being capable enough to positvely affect the lives of their 'clients'? It will be one long excuse about there being no places available, or not enough money for trips to Disney Land, or to be blunt, middle class social workers not being willing to tackle rough families on sink estates.
Actually Mr E, even Phil Dicks 'Minority Report' comes up short as a literary reference point for this kind of crap.
A better reference point would be Alfred Bester's 'The Demolished Man' - one of the 10 best SF novels ever published - for reasons that will become apparent if you follow the link and read the synopsis.
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A better reference point would be Alfred Bester's 'The Demolished Man' - one of the 10 best SF novels ever published - for reasons that will become apparent if you follow the link and read the synopsis.
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