We can’t be surprised at the attempts of the state to co-opt the public to their authoritarian programme. That they should succeed is unconscionable to me.
These ‘volunteers’ should be peeled and rolled in salt on live television. I’d buy a TV to watch that.
The “Neighbourhood Champions” will pass on evidence of graffiti, fly-tipping, litter and excessive noise. They could eventually be trained to report child abuse, domestic violence, racial harassment and other “hate crimes”.
The plan is expected to be approved this week in Harrow. The council says the scheme, which has police backing, will increase pride in the community.
Oh yes. Increase pride. That’s what it’ll do.
There’ll be absolutely no further divisions drawn in society, no extra mistrust and suspicion that one’s neighbours are either collaborators or traitors.
Please note that Harrow is a Conservative controlled council.
So, there’s our future.
AJ
Wow, hello 1984 / Nazi Germany / Fascist Italy / East Germany / Soviet Union. One country under CCTV indeed.
Comment by Nick Osborne — November 9, 2009 @ 1:54 pm |
“The “Neighbourhood Champions” will pass on evidence of graffiti, fly-tipping, litter and excessive noise. “
And if they prove good at that, they can try out for a job with this new bunch of ******s…
Comment by JuliaM — November 9, 2009 @ 2:14 pm |
link broken?…
Comment by Al Jahom — November 9, 2009 @ 2:25 pm |
Eeew! Looks fine in mouseover, but seems to have inserted a link back to your blog somehow when you click!
Taken it down, may be?
Comment by JuliaM — November 9, 2009 @ 3:44 pm |
Yep – they’ve taken it down… Link also broken over at Fausty’s place. He has an extract.
http://faustiesblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/government-snoopers-to-invade-your-home.html
Comment by Al Jahom — November 9, 2009 @ 3:54 pm |
Heh and the Tories like to pretend they are different from Labour. Authoritarian to the core the pair of them.
Comment by QM — November 9, 2009 @ 2:25 pm |
Hmmm. Reminds me of something… Oh yes, those sons of fun, The Stasi:
The MfS infiltrated almost every aspect of GDR life. In the mid-1980s, a network of IMs began growing in both German states; by the time East Germany collapsed in 1989, the MfS employed 91,015 employees and 173,081 informants.[20] About one of every 63 East Germans collaborated with the MfS – one of the most extensive police infiltrations of a society in history. In 2007 an article in BBC stated that “Some calculations have concluded that in East Germany there was one informer to every seven citizens.”[21] Additionally, MfS agents infiltrated and undermined West Germany’s government and spy agencies.
See also:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stasi
Comment by Jonathan — November 9, 2009 @ 4:53 pm |
[...] Council – as Al Jahom points out, a Tory council – is proposing a neighbourhood scheme to reduce vandalism and [...]
Pingback by Send ‘em all back where they came from! « Hundreds and Thousands (on the trifle of life) — November 9, 2009 @ 5:45 pm |