Our ‘free press’ is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? Even if the only free thing about it is getting a copy of the Metro every morning.
Most of the media interprets press freedom as being able to ignore anything that won’t interest the Strictly-come-X-factor-celeb-obsessed population.
For instance, yesterday we have a major report on crime and policing reduced to a national debate on whether or not we should ban happy hour at the pub?
I’m referring to the Home Affairs select committee report on the role of the police.
After months of consultation, ‘Policing in the 21st century’ has come out with some scathing criticisms of the way our police have been forced to operate.
I say ‘forced’ because most of the blame could probably be laid at the door of the Home Office itself:
* How the targets culture has forced them to go for easy pickings from the generally law abiding who are criminalised for trivial offences;
* How unplanned immigration has put unprecedented strain on police time and manpower;
* How Blunkett’s Bobbies are not living up to their promise;
* How their own crime figures – especially on knife crime – are not to be trusted;
* And, most worryingly, how we are miles away from any proper security plan for the London Olympics which needs “urgent” attention. (After a trawl around the web last night, I found only one site that sniffed at this.)
But no, the media decides the subject is happy hour and binge drinking, obviously reflecting its own interests.
People in the security industry deserve better than this, so why not read it yourself here? This weblink is much easier on your PC than the heavy PDF download you can also get online.
Culture club clash
Even if you didn’t think so before, you could very well reach the conclusion that politicians have made a mighty lash up of a once much-revered public service.
It’s true that policing our new 24-hour drinking ‘culture’ is causing a big problem for the police, and I’m as interested in the subject of booze as the next man at the bar.
But do we have to reduce everything to the level of the much admired BBC website which, I believe, as a public funded webcaster has a duty to report more thoroughly than this one angle?
(As the new jewel in the Beeb’s crown you can only laugh when they come out with regular daft Q&A’s along the lines of “Has the credit crunch affected you?” Naive or what?)
Value lager for all
In any case, this seems just another way of getting responsible drinkers to pay even more tax on the alcohol they consume in the privacy of their own homes, causing no bother to anyone or any strain on the police.
As we’ve seen in recent months, the supermarkets don’t need any encouragement to up their prices way beyond their increased costs. While they might have their alcohol “loss leaders,” they are sneakily raising prices on the rest of their liquor, blaming the credit crunch but still showing healthy profits. But If you think food is expensive now, will you still be around when we have the GB pound 27 loaf of bread?
Blanket bar
Yes, the government should call time on happy hours and promotions that encourage public binge drinking.
But it shouldn’t pick on the law abiding majority who, often, can only afford to drink at home.
Many pubs now stay open a little longer which most civilised drinkers like, if they can afford it. With so many people having to work a lot later in these tough times, it’s a necessity.
But it’s hardly “continental style” and these local pubs staying open until midnight or so are not the problem. They shouldn’t be treated in the same way as the city centre bars that attract loutish, aggressive behaviour and are such a strain on police resources.
Tagged at birth
Ironically it’s the drinks sector that’s seeing the highest rise in retail theft as the recession bites. Whisky, vodka and champagne are the most popular items on the thieves’ shopping list.
Encouraged by the British Retail Consortium, we’re seeing a lot of interesting new tagging initiatives – not just obvious electronic items but, now, expensive meat and jewellery.
I was interested to see that shoe stores are also using security source tagging allowing pairs to be displayed. This should end the traditional shoe shop scenario: when you find a pair you like the other one’s got lost in the stockroom or changed colour.
Us Europeans, who buy on average five pairs a year (Is this cobblers?) probably know this already, but the tags self destruct with use over time.
Eve of destruction
Perhaps we could extend this self-destruct idea to other security areas.
I hear that a UK firm has launched a device designed to obliterate the contents of lost or stolen mobile phones or other hand-helds which, increasingly, carry valuable personal and commercial information.
God knows, with all these security database breaches – laptops, hard drives and memory sticks being left on the tube, in cabs and cafes – we need something like this for all government departments. Here’s the latest gaffe in a long running saga.
Once a device leaves the department couldn’t it wipe itself clean after a set time?
I’m not talking about exploding memory sticks in your pocket – Mission Impossible style – but something along these lines could take the human element out of the risk.
Be a movie star
If you feel that the glamorous world of security installation is more exiting than the kind of stuff dished up from Hollywood you might consider breaking into the movies yourself and putting a few things right.
A British film company is seeking funds to produce “an intelligent and entertaining thriller” for the international market. The producers say you could “expose your company’s brand or product to a worldwide audience”.
The film has the, err, exciting working title of “Webcam- the movie“.
Bye bye Bromsgrove. Next stop Cannes …
Quantum of reality
This kind of thing could have possibilities. I can see it now …
Scene: CCTV forensic lab, 4am.
Hard bitten cop, Crane Maddox stands over quirky technician, Sean Geek:
MADDOX: If Kryzvonburgervitz’s image is on this disk he’ll be taking the long walk to the chair.
GEEK: Don’t worry chief. It was captured by the VisiMatronaMatiC 774EKPD mega pixel, super low light day/night camera with varifocal lens and Power over Ethernet, trade price GB pound 340 with optional five year warranty.”
MADDOX: Well, where’s the picture?
GEEK: Sorry chief, the disk self destructed.
