What's the betting ...

[streaky]

that motorists will become the first targets for the current considerations (reported 15 May) to make 'offenders' wear clearly identifiable clothing (such as the orange overalls worn by convicts in the USA)? - Streaky

[kenp]

Burberry tabard?

[MilnerR]

Can't see it happening as motoring convictions aren't criminal convictions. What i can see, is the local scrotes wanting to "earn" such a uniform as some sort of bad boy "gangsta" street cred bullshit....

Personally i think they should be made to wear pink body stokings, so they resemble the dicks they so obviously are!

[streaky]

MilnerR said:

Can't see it happening as motoring convictions aren't criminal convictions. What i can see, is the local scrotes wanting to "earn" such a uniform as some sort of bad boy "gangsta" street cred bullshit.... Personally i think they should be made to wear pink body stokings, so they resemble the dicks they so obviously are!

There were reports before the election that motorists could become the target for ASBOs - giving a "two-fingered salute" would be "anti-social" IIRC the article correctly.

It will not be long before another "weapon" is added to the already over-stocked armoury the police possess. As soon as there is an alternative criminal charge (assuming speeding isn't actually criminalised), what's the betting it won't be used?

Cit. (1) Prescott/Greenpeace trespass - arrests made under S42a of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (intended for use against animal rights activists).

(2) People intending to protest lawfully at an Arms Exhibition arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2000.

(3) Innocent office workers 'illegally' (?) detained for up to five hours in a London square.

The State grows ever more powerful and the police appear to be encouraged to find some law to arrest, detain, criminalise behaviour that only 10 years ago was not unlawful. The BLiar administrations have steadily and stealthily (note the number of supposedly 'minor' amendments to various Acts that have been slipped in via Acts with serious titles - e.g. S126 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 added S42a to the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 enabling the arrest of the Greenpeace protestors who were only trespassing (a civil offence) and had given warning of their intentions.

Streaky

[bluepolarbear]

streaky said:

(3) Innocent office workers 'illegally' (?) detained for up to five hours in a London square. Streaky

Unfortunetly, the high court ruled it was legally to detain people without food, water, or basic toilet facilities for the best part of a day. Deemed to be in the greater good - presumbly of Blair's SSGB

Apart from running rough shot of your civil liberty rights in the name of the "greater good" the other worring trend is the growing use of Statutory Instruments. SIs do not need to go past Parliament for approval. Where the occasionly does need to go, you find that most elements of it can then be changed by SI and indeed whole new sections added.