I suggested earlier that the old 'drunk in public' crime could be resurrected and fined as an easy way to make money.
It didn't take long.
In fact, all fixed penalty notices are to be increased by £15 to 'help victims of violent crime' which really means that it'll all go into parliamentary pockets.
In the Parliamentary reply which revealed the Government's plan, Justice Minister Claire Ward said: 'It is Government policy that, where possible, offenders should contribute to victims' services as part of their reparation.
Victims? These surcharges apply to things like having dirty windows on your car, parking in the wrong place and the rather sinister 'setting off fireworks after curfew'. Curfew? When did that come about? Are there fingermen on patrol already?
There are no victims in any of the 'crimes' listed. Nobody gets so much as inconvenienced by most of them. These are not crimes in which someone gets hurt, they are crimes of non-conformism to regulations, some of which are sensible but most of which are arbitrary.
There'll be more of this. Will the Cameroids do anything to repeal it? Will they swear an oath, now, to demolish all the petty rules and spiteful fines of this Labour government? I'd really like to see them take a stand on this but I don't think they can without permission from the EU.
Show me someone thinking of voting Labour, and I'll show you someone who isn't thinking at all.
Late Extra: I missed this line on first reading.
'Proceeds raised from the surcharge provide a ring-fenced source of funding for a wide variety of organisations providing non-financial support to victims and witnesses of crime.'
The victims in this 'victim surcharge' idea don't get a penny. It's a tax to support another Labour fakecharity or two.
6 comments:
Show me someone thinking of voting Labour, and I'll show you someone who isn't thinking at all.
You've read this month's Q Magazine interview with Cheryl Cole?
Nope. Never read a magazine whose editors are too lazy to think of a proper title.
Also, never read any interview with anyone resembling Cheryl Cole. Even that remote contact can damage your brain. The effort of thinking down to that level can cause a haemorrhage.
Talking to stupid people causes warts and ringworm. That's why Government advisers are riddled with both.
Please stop reading the Daily Fail. I rely on you for a dose of sanity.
The daily fail can make a sensational story out of someone losing their keys. It's a hack-rag. You have to cut through the crap.
Sometimes they get something they don't need to hype. This is one.
Since the Police don't really do Traffic anymore, which is a major reason for the increasing unroadworthiness of the nations cars, this will not be fully effective.
Until that is the Govt give powers to plastic plod and Civic Enforcement Stasi over traffic regulations enabling them to spend their day examining parked vehicles for faults and dishing out fines (inc victim surcharge).
This is exactly what the "Specials" used to do on match day around the local FA ground once the fans had been safely herded in and before they were guided out.
Not actually a bad thing in iteself, just the motivation.
Cheryl Cole may well be utterly brainless - but all she needs as far as I'm concerned is enough nous to get on her hands and knees facing away from me so I can slip her a crippler.
Well you would wouldn't you. I would anyway.
Or you'd lie about it.
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