They have them in countries like Iran, Libya and Sudan. We don’t need one here, says a s h smyth |
|
In some respects, John Reid's decision to carve up the Home Office is perfectly logical, rationalising a disintegrating monolith and keeping the vote-winning portfolios (like counter-terrorism) for himself. But it's the resulting entities - Ministries of Justice and of Security - that give cause for concern.
In its long history and various political forms, Britain has never had a Ministry of Justice. And yet the rule of law obtains just fine. Our politicians are subject to the law; our press is free to monitor government; and as citizens we are not subject to arbitrary arrests or extra-judicial punishments.
Taliban-run Afghanistan and apartheid South Africa, on the other hand, both had flourishing justice ministries. As have Iran, China, Libya, Russia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe. Of course, there's no way to prove that
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| It is clear that - in Dr Reid’s mind - we are all terrorists |
|
|
justice ministries actually cause injustice; but (to borrow from Dr Reid) it's pretty clear that, as a rule, they are not 'fit for purpose'. All too often, a 'Ministry of Justice' is the ultimate Orwellian figment of inverse-speak.
Reid has a serious bee in his bonnet over terrorism, and though he insists that the split actually puts more space between the criminal justice system (now under Justice) and the government's anti-terror apparatus (Security), so making us less susceptible to state iniquities, it is bad news that the entire security set-up is in his forceful hands.
With no asylum-seekers or overcrowded prisons to worry about, he will have more time to indulge his obsessions. With radio adverts already asking us to inform on our neighbours if they loiter in the street or shop in bulk, it is clear that - in Dr Reid's mind - we are all terrorists.
Reid's new powers constitute another step into New Labour's Pass, bitte! utopia of ID cards and DNA registers. Next up, retinal scanning. After all, they have it already in the US. Courtesy of the Justice Department.
FIRST POSTED MARCH 30, 2007
|
