Recent appalling crimes committed by people on bail highlight the way that justice now appears to be subservient to political decisions.
Almost one in five murder suspects in Britain last year were alleged to have committed the offence while on bail.
In the last week alone we have heard the criminal justice system has culture of complacency and this culture ultimately led to the death of a young man attacked on the top deck of a bus.
This incident was put down to a bail mix up between the prison authorities and the police. But with many other cases, such as this one, there is the suspicion that bail was granted because of the lack of custodial space.
Political decisions have led to this crisis in the prison service. Although they deny it, how can the judiciary operate objectively when they know the jails are a hare’s breath away from the maximum intake? Would they grant so much bail if we had more places behind bars?
The glaringly obvious answer is to provide more prison places, a long term solution that the government should have addressed years ago.
But until that happens – if it ever does – the public should not be put at risk. If it’s a case of more prison overcrowding or greater safety on the streets, I know how I’d vote.
Ironically, while we’re told that these crowded regimes are threatening a prisoner’s rights to fair treatment inside, its also been reported that prison life is so relatively “cushy” that the concept of punishment seems to have gone out the window – which is more than the prisoners have.
According to reports, prisoners wouldn’t think of escaping because life inside is too comfortable. The problem is with people trying to break in
Nanny state
I saw on TV the other morning that manufacturers are disguising covert cameras in kiddy toys and ornaments in an effort to catch out child minders and daytime carers who don’t care quite enough. I didn’t catch the manufacturer, but I thought the prominent aerial in the toy’s head was a dead giveaway.
However, while it does throw up some morality questions (like, is it fair to spy on the nanny even though it may be for the greater good of your child?) there is a growing market here that installers might find potentially profitable .
Along these lines, we’re Bench Testing a mini DVR at the moment that could well be used in covert applications. This kind of kit doesn’t usually get the sort of in-depth testing our team specialises in, so look out for the report in our August edition.
Journalistic net work
If it’s a bit suspect to spy on nannies, what about the rights of fish? I was sent a press release saying that cameras are being used in the surveillance of this valuable watery asset in a Chilean salmon farm. Obscure but interesting, I thought, forwarding the email to deputy editor, Anthony Hildebrand to post up on our website
“Yes, I’ve been there a couple of times,” said the unflappable Hildebrand. Quite a conversation stopper. Apparently, the visits to Chile occurred when he was working on a fish farming magazine.
If I hadn’t have seen his CV I would have thought this claim sounded fishy, but there was no catch, he was an authority of some depth. A job on such a magazine would have brought out the punner in me, but I suppose after a while they do wear a bit fin.
It’s in the air
At this time in the security year there is an unseen presence that pervades the atmosphere, a tangible force that sits unseen in every security boardroom, lurking in the shadows of every conversation just waiting to manifest itself, curled on the tip of every security tongue just waiting for the right moment to be born.
What is this loaded word, this elephant in the room?
IFSEC, of course. Love it, or not love-it-not-quite-so-much as we do here at CMPi, it can’t be ignored. It fills our every waking moment and even our dreams. Godamit, it even plopped into my thoughts when I was lining up the drinks at my local on Friday night. How dare it be so all pervading?
If you’re in security (and I assume you must be) then you just gotta be there. As us older chaps used to say, it’s where it’s at.
Non-attendees should be required to produce a written note from a qualified medical practitioner, preferably psychiatric.
Am I being slightly biased here? Have I sacrificed my editorial independence to the filthy lucre of employment?
Course not. For installers, a day or more at the show gives you ammunition for the year ahead, opens your mind to technology areas and ideas, points you to profitable new areas and new business partnerships, let’s you know what’s hot and what’s not, puts you in the knowledge loop, makes you sound and act more confidently with customers, generally increases your all round personal appeal.
You may come away shattered, but you know that you have lived.
Get it mapped out
It’s always a pleasure to meet Security Installer readers at the show and sometimes this has led to interesting follow up coverage. So use your handy fold-up floor plan given out with our bumper May edition to guide you to stand 10060 in Hall 6.
In our bumper IFSEC Magazine we ran a guide to everyone at CMPi who’s responsible for the event. If that edition is too heavy to lug to Brum, we’re also giving it out at the show so you’ll know who’s who if you want to re-book, make contact, congratulate, send flowers or even (as if) complain. (Tip: Do not ask “What do you do for the other 51 weeks of the year?” It does not go down well).
I was going to sign off “See you at the show” but I’ve already written that in our big “IFSEC Extra” June edition of Security Installer, out very soon, so I won’t.
See you next time.
