Tossing rioters out of state-subsidized homes, unmasking young men who hide their faces behind hoods, demanding that phone networks shut off access to messaging services or social networks during unrest. ...
While there are those who cheer the tough talk from Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, others recall center-left leader Tony Blair's response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States — and the legal missteps that corroded civil liberties and fueled mistrust of authority among young Muslims.
"The events of the past few days have understandably led to calls for tough new measures," said Isabella Sankey, policy director for the human rights group Liberty. "But knee-jerk powers ... could cause more problems than they solve."
Cameron has pledged to hand police, local authorities and the courts sweeping powers to mete out severe punishments to those involved in the unrest. He has also warned that in the future, looters could be met by the rare sight of water cannons, dye sprays and even the country's military deployed on Britain's streets.
Britain is way past the stage when their police powers infringe on the rights of people (snooping in garbage for recycling, punishing people for defending themselves, constant video surveillance in public places). The steps Britain is proposing are a response to thuggery. They are justified by the threat and the attitudes of the looters who know they face few consequences under the current rules.
Remember, an Iran or a China doing many of the same things would be regrettable. But Britain is a free country facing thugs and not a despotism facing brave protesters striving for freedom.
A sharp knife in the hands of a skilled surgeon is one thing. The same knife in the hands of a mugger another. The so-called human rights community should learn the difference.
UPDATE: Come on, even a liberaltopia like San Francisco can get away with shutting down cell phones to preempt protests over a shooting by police. Although the usual suspects are comparing the city to Egypt under Mubarak. Well, at least we're still shy of the Nazi comparison tipping point, eh?
UPDATE: Mark Steyn notes the problem with who the police powers of the state are directed at:
In Britain, everything is policed except crime.
And some are happy with that state of affairs--and not just those committing the crimes.
But some British are fighting back, like those defending their stores and those taking up brooms to clean up their cities. Properly fighting the roving bands of looters would be a nice sign, too, that we haven't reached the state of affairs when nobody has the will to fight once the barbarians have breached the walls (as I commented about Steyn's last book, America Alone).
We will always have barbarians. The real question is will we always have enough people to build and defend what is built? If we can't do that? Well, that's just plain stupid.
