The recent and continuing London riots, now in danger of spreading elsewhere just as they did back in the summer of 1981, are a reminder of just how close this country is drifting towards anarchy. Look at any town or city in Britain and it’s the same story, violent crime on the increase, weekend city centres resembling scenes from the Wild West, youths vomiting on street corners when not attacking innocent passers-by and one another. Drug-fuelled burglaries in the suburbs and streets full of litter. This is the reality of modern day Britain, a country where criminals walk around with impunity (not to mention immunity) and where a policeman pounding the beat is, in most areas, a rarity.This is a country where most crimes remain undetected and unsolved and where, when perpetrators are brought to justice, the punishments meted out by the courts are totally inadequate in relation to the crimes committed. A country where victims are punished should they despair of the lack of State protection and dare to take the law into their own hands by offering resistance to those who would harm them or their property.
This is a country whose people have been repeatedly let down by successive governments of both major political parties and where the State has consistently failed in its primary and fundamental duty to protect its law abiding citizens. This is a country whose rulers seem to think that the rights of criminals are more important than those of their victims.
This is a country where respect, responsibility and common decency are alien concepts to many people. How can this have happened? How can a country once renowned throughout the world for its democracy, its sense of fair play and the doctrine that every Englishman’s home is his castle have slipped so far? Why, seemingly, have we allowed the lunatics to take over the asylum?
Of course, every country in the world has a problem with crime to some degree or another and violent crime is nothing new. Prior to the mid-19th century and the founding of the modern police force violent crime was rampant but at least in those days the law abiding citizen had the option of legally carrying a weapon and defending himself should it be necessary. Since the mid-19th century we have benefitted from the protection of a national police force, an organisation generally respected by the majority and feared by the (criminal) minority. Not any more, there are too few police, there certainly aren’t enough to be a visible deterrent and the courts are a joke rather than a deterrent to most criminals.
The fact is that respectable people, the majority of us, no longer feel safe on the streets or even in our houses. Barely a day goes by without a newspaper report of yet another violent crime being committed against an innocent person. Well, you know all this but the question is what are you or what are we going to do about it? Probably nothing except shake our heads in dismay, have a moan over the dinner table or at the pub and then order another drink and pretend that it’s gone away. But it hasn’t and it won’t. Whatever our politicians say, crime is getting out of hand and is increasing year by year with fewer offences being detected. Up to date statistics (so we are told) reveal that more crimes are being solved but take away motoring offences, the vast majority of which can hardly be classified as crime, and we are left with a radically different picture. No, those statistics are simply produced by our political masters to try to convince us that the police really are making headway. They are not.
So what can be done? Well, let’s consider these for a start –
- Increase the number of police. Not to fill in forms and endless reams of Government sponsored paperwork, but to actually patrol and walk the beat. You know, like real policemen. Isn’t the main function of a police force, to protect and serve? Let them do just that.
- Improve police morale. Put an end to the ridiculous witch hunts where allegations are made of “institutionalized racism” and other “isms” dreamed up by woolly jacketed, woolly headed, bearded politically correct idealists. This country is one of the most fair minded and racially tolerant in the world and whilst some prejudices will always exist I don’t believe for a moment that our police force does anything but reflect the rest of British society.
- Stop picking on the motorist. Many motorists, and don’t forget most of the adult population are motorists, dislike the police because we feel picked upon. There seems to be no shortage of police to hand out tickets for speeding and parking but when our homes are burgled we wait hours and hours for them to visit us, if they bother at all.
- Eradicate political correctness, a cancer slowly choking the life out of the United Kingdom. We are all equal and deserve to be treated as such. Treat all people and in particular all criminals the same, irrespective of race, colour, religion, sex, age, political belief or economic status. This means ending reverse discrimination too. There must be no no-go areas anywhere in the United Kingdom (we are a democracy remember?) and the police should not be afraid to question or arrest any person suspected of breaking the law irrespective of his or her colour, nationality, race or sex.
- Punish criminals in such a way as to ensure that they don’t feel inclined to offend again. I can’t offer any quick solution here but I’m sure there will be many suggestions. For example, in the case of serious crimes shouldn’t life imprisonment mean just that? Deterrents have to be realistic. Institute a policy of zero tolerance and leave the criminal in no doubt as to the consequences of his actions.
- End the obsession with the rights of the criminal. We should be more concerned with the rights of the victim. Protection of the innocent law-abiding citizen is a priority and duty of a civilized state. We can look at the criminal’s human rights once we’ve settled the rights of his victim.
- It is quite clear that due to our ineffective education system many youngsters are brought up with no idea of this country’s rich history, heritage and traditions. Is there any wonder that many of them have no pride or sense of belonging? Is it not our duty to ensure that in all schools children are educated in and brought up with a truthful and complete schooling in British history, tradition and values?
- The introduction of some sort of community or civic service should be considered very carefully. If our education system is incapable of teaching values of pride, respect, responsibility, discipline and decency then maybe this will do the trick. Some may think that this is a retrograde step, a reactionary measure and an infringement of liberty but what is the alternative? Nothing else seems to be working does it? Perhaps dissenters should reserve their opinion to the next time that their house or their neighbour’s house is burgled or the next time they face abuse whilst taking their wife out for a meal on a Saturday night.
The majority of people care deeply about this country and its values, values based upon freedoms and democracy that have developed over many years. It is still a wonderful country and it hurts to see how it is declining so terribly. We need action and we need it urgently. Inaction is no longer an option. If we feel strongly about these matters then those who govern us must be left in no doubt as to the strength of our feelings. Tell them to act now before it’s too late. Enough is enough.
Common Sense 