I actually think this is an excellent idea. Although, the physical
nature of having some piece of technology permanently attached to your
person does seem a bit "medieval", the truth of the matter is that the
individuals concerned would otherwise remain "at her Majesty's
pleasure". So which is a greater invasion of privacy, wearing an
anklet, or doing time in the Scrubs?
I remember reading an article in one of the Sundays about this scheme
when it was first proposed, and they specifically targetted career
criminals, who repeat offend with no intent to reform. Their research
showed that this class of prisoner, once on the cycle of offending,
doing time, and re-offending, only went one way, and that was deeper and
deeper into the myre, committing ever worsening crimes and serving
longer and longer terms in prison. If releasing them with an
electro-gadget breaks thr cycle, everybody wins. So I don't think this
scheme is only about pandering to the general public's need to feel that
something is actually being done to prevent crimes, rather than just
"punish" after the crime is committed.
And of course, the fact that a tracking gadget costs us tax-payers a
fraction of keeping a man in prison (which someone once told me was more
expensive than boarding at Eton) is an added bonus.
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim Trent
Sent: 02 September 2004 09:19
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [data-protection] BBC article, satelites tracking
"George Orwell, where are you now?"
I'm going to have a little rant.
It seems that by offending against the law, especially where the law is
a
"vengeance by popular demand" law, that all the rights of the individual
are
thrown out of the window "in the public interest"
Later, of course, the technology will allow the National Identity Card
to
emit a radio signal and to be tracked within an inch of the individual's
location. I will, of course, be changing my name to "David Blunkett" by
deed poll when he gets that nasty little item through parliament.
Add to that the government minister whose name I have forgotten's
concept of
total monitoring and tracking of all children at all times after
(presumably) conception [Monty Python - "Every Sperm is Sacred"?], but
certainly after birth [will she be present now at all births?] and you
have
an "interesting scenario for monitoring".
I can just see the monitoring centres now. "Adult A has encountering
children k-z (Scout Troop, and he is a scoutmaster), and is heading into
the
woods! RED ALERT"
Now, don't get me wrong, I am not writing in support of paedophiles. I
am
writing instead in defence of ordinary normal "people with nothing to
hide",
who will, of course, be told "If you have nothing to hide then you won't
object".
The thing is, we have nothing to hide. Except, in *your* eyes *my*
lifestyle may be "wrong" because every third Thursday I go to the sweet
shop
and pig out on sugar! You may be an active campaigner against sugar.
Your
anti-sugar campaign hits a public nerve, and suddenly I am to be hunted
down
and "outed" as a sugarphile. (Ewww, that suddenly sounds like the
concept
of dirty old men hanging around playgrounds). So I do object.
I hate insidious curbs on freedoms. Yes, even for offenders once their
sentence is served and their crime thus paid for. And yes, even for
disgusting offenders who prey on kids. As a side issue true research
will
tell us that the majority of people who prey on kids are well known to
the
kids, the families and the friends and "no-one would have ever suspect
them.
Oh yes. And some are female, too.
OK, rant over. Anyone offended by the rant, well, I was going to
apologise.
Bu it's almost Friday and it's a short week!
Tim Trent - Consultant
Direct: +44(0)1344 392644 Mobile:+44(0)7710 126618
email: [log in to unmask]
Marketing Improvement Limited, Abbey House, Grenville Place, Bracknell,
United Kingdom, RG12 1BP
http://www.marketingimprovement.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rob Dawson
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2004 8:50 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [data-protection] BBC article, satelites tracking
Dear all
I thought that the following article might be of interest.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3620024.stm
--
Thank you and kind regards
Opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer
Rob Dawson
Institutional Compliance Officer
University College Chester
Parkgate Road
Chester
CH1 4BJ
[log in to unmask]
Tel: 01244 392892
Fax: 01244 392821
http://www.chester.ac.uk/
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