Don’t punish the parents

Published: August 25, 2011

I AM pleased that Camden’s current administration has decided not to seek to evict the families of those arrested in connection to the recent riots from their council homes.

We commend them for this. Wandsworth council initiated this practice, serving eviction notices to entire families on the grounds that one member of the household had been accused.

This type of collective punishment has no place in a just society.

It was worrying to read in the papers that, nevertheless, one Camden resident had refused to allow her son to register at her address for his bail apparently for fear that the rest of the family would be evicted. Her son was subsequently sent to prison on remand without having been convicted of any crime.

As Camden’s administration has, I understand, decided not to take this form of action, it should make this clear to avoid families suffering unnecessary fear and worry.

If we are to build a stronger and more cohesive society, the answer is not to punish parents, who are unlikely to have been able to prevent this action. Those who have committed crimes and are convicted in court should be punished by the courts.

They need to be given a clear message that they are responsible for their actions.

And this should be done in a way that makes clear the gravity of these offences. Punishment through demanding community service combined with confiscation of mobile phones and fines may be a better solution.

We do not need unnecessary custodial sentences which can help train people for a life of crime rather than reform them.

Making people homeless or imposing harsh custodial sentences panders to a misguided desire for revenge.

This is likely to create further social problems at a time when we should be focusing on solving those that contributed to the riots in the first place, combined with firm but fair action that makes it clear that individuals remain responsible for their actions.
Cllr Maya de Souza
Green Party, Highgate ward

Resist cuts to police

AFTER the riots there is a clear consensus among the public, that the government’s cuts to the Metropolitan Police are ill-thought out, dangerous, and should be cancelled.

Belatedly even the Mayor of London has questioned the cuts (though the officer numbers he proposes for the Met are still a cut, and Safer Neighbourhood Teams sergeants are still being reduced, with nine fewer in Barnet and Camden).

However we have heard nothing on this from the Tory GLA member for Barnet and Camden. We already know he made no written representations to the Met about the cuts before the riots. Where does he stand now?

Does he agree with the government that the cuts should proceed? Or does he now intend properly to reflect the views of the people he is supposed to represent and oppose the cuts?

And while Brian Coleman may rightly praise the firefighters for their work during the rioting, will he bring back into service the fire engines he has locked away from them?

And will he resist any more transfers of millions out of the fire budget to the police as happened earlier this year, which is just robbing Peter to pay Paul?

We need our fire service just as much as the police!
Andrew Dismore
Labour London Assembly candidate for Barnet and Camden

In search of feedback

I WOULD like to take this opportunity to unreservedly thank the police for their hard work and commitment in protecting our local communities and preserving the livelihoods of our local businesses during the recent outbreaks of disorder.

I witnessed the bravery of police officers in the face of great adversity during the disorder and I was struck by the officers’ dedication and steely resolve in safeguarding our community in such difficult conditions.  

The events that have taken place simply highlight our continuing need for police presence on Camden’s streets.

Owing to the hard work and commitment of the police, incidents in Camden were controlled and not as damaging as those in other London boroughs.

Camden Council is actively formulating ways to respond to issues stemming from the disorder. 

As ever the council’s first and foremost focus is directly to talk to the local community and stakeholders.

Camden values and is actively seeking responses from the local community. Based on this feedback the council will be taking steps to prevent and protect from any future instances of disorder.

The council will continue engaging in dialogue with the local community for the foreseeable future and the police will play an essential part in this conversation.   
Cllr Abdul Hai
Cabinet Member for Community Safety

Innocents in prison

WE hear that the jails are full almost to capacity so why are we holding more than 830 as yet innocent people in custody?

While we criticise other states, Zimbabwe and China for example, are we any better?
Name and address supplied,
N7

Let’s debate justice, Ken

IT has been disappointing not to have heard more from Ken Clarke during the recent riots.

He is our justice minister and I have always considered him to be a thoughtful, liberal, person.

We badly need new thinking about the justice system in this country so please Ken… speak up and let there be a sensible debate.
Elizabeth Horder
Regent’s Park Road, NW1

Anarchy

“When an Arab Spring comes…

“Can a Democratic Winter be far behind?’

(Apologies to Percy Bysshe Shelley), though I hear that Michael Gove, the education minister, is not blaming the recent rioting on the shooting and death of Mark Duggan, but Shelley’s poem, The Mask of Anarchy.
Bob Davenport,
WC1