Imagine: While out shopping for some new shoes, you notice someone switch the shoes they were wearing with a new pair, and walk out the door. Unfortunately for them, you let the in-store security officer know what you saw, and they pursue the culprit. Next thing, there is a police officer at the scene bundling the would-be sandal-nabber into a small, plastic-fronted room right there in the middle of the shopping centre. You ask a police constable about the situation, and she explains that the little room is an in-store jail where they process criminals. They’ll take their ID and a DNA sample and release the culprit (presumably sans footware) to receive a fine or await more criminal action.
Does this sound like a good idea, or a ridiculous narrative? In either case, it has been proposed and received the backing of several constabularies in the UK.
Combine this idea with the proposal for compulsary, on-the-spot fines for anti-social behaviour (and just try defining that!), compulsary ID cards, and we are looking at a fast-lane justice system. I do not like the idea of scare-mongering, and I hate ignorant opinions (I don’t read the Daily Mail, for example), but it does not take a huge stretch of imagination to paint a bleak picture of the workings of street justice in the UK.
You take a trip to Tesco (insert Wal-Mart or whatever), and are just considering whether you can carry the new Harry Potter and a bottle of water. Because you took a quick run down to the shopping centre, you are wearing joggers and a hoodie, and you look slightly disheveled (sorry, but you do).
A tap on the shoulder, and two largish people in dark clothes grab each arm and begin dragging you away. You shout, and people just watch, some look disgusted. You struggle, confused, then your side — something hurts — your eyes close.
When you open them again, you are slumped in a small room. Flourescent lights cast a sickly green glow, and you can see two people outside through a perspex window. It is only now that you recognise one of the men, this time putting together his appearance with his clothing and realising they’re police. You feel confused, but much relieved, when one of them notices you’re awake and walks in.
He explains that you have been detained because you match the discription of someone seen shouting abuse at an elderly woman, and you resisted arrest. You also aren’t carrying any ID (damn, you should have remembered that when you changed for your run!) so you will be detained until the DNA results are back…
You could continue this story, adding layer after layer of discomfort, inconvenience, and even fear to the narrative. It is difficult, from this point, however, to add any redeeming qualitits to the story. The caracter is already undergoing hours of ordeal and his or her body has been attacked and swabbed for samples. He faces on the spot fines for anti-social behaviour, not carrying ID, and a criminal record. More than that, there is no jury, no due-process or habeas corpus.
What do you reckon, is this justice, or am I over-reacting?
