The limits of liberty: We’re all suspects now
This lecture by Henry Porter is vital stuff. Read it before it slides behind The Independent’s infernal subscription wall in a few days.
(Thanks to Tim for the link.)
Posted on October 19th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
| See also • Suspect Nation • Henry Porter online • Walls come tumbling down |
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Filed under Affronts to democracy, Blair, T.W.A.T., The home front, UK politics |
The following short but true story exemplifies what Mr Porter is concerned about. The hired help pushes its weight around on the ground as much as in Downing Street and Washington.
A No 25 bus stopped at Aldgate roundabout at about 1.10 am on the night of October 18/19, 2006 and ticket inspectors got on.
I was sitting on a rear facing aisle seat on the off-side at the back of the bus, my wife was in the window seat beside me and a friend sat opposite her, with a stranger opposite me. The bus was quite full. Sitting on the step in the floor just in front of me was a young chap in a grey suit chatting on his phone, a biggish Nokia style one. He had got on not too long before and was clearly drunk but peaceful and considerate, apologising to people sitting either side when he leaned against them as the bus turned corners.
A ticket inspector asked why he had not touched his Oyster card. He thought he had. The inspector claimed he had not swiped the card all day and he was certain he had. He was held for a while by the inspector blocking his path before being allowed to get off the bus to speak to one of the police officers as he had asked. When passing me I heard him say ‘excuse me’ as he attempted to pass another inspector in the gangway just behind me whom I had not noticed before and who immediately blocked his path, told him off and threatened to report him for assault. He apologised, explained he had said ‘excuse me’ and after several polite requests was eventually allowed to pass.
The next thing I saw was a burly police officer with peaked cap and shirt sleeves apparently shouting at him just a few inches from his face. He then frisked him and grabbed his wrist, the left I think, twisting it around behind his back and forcing him back up against some railings. I was absolutely amazed at what I was witnessing unfold before me, so much so that I got out of my seat and went to the door to take photos with my phone but by the time I had got it ready, the bus was closing its doors and driving off.
I had not seen the slightest aggression from the young man despite the physical aggression he had suffered.
I am astounded that this sort of behaviour can come about, let alone be tolerated. We are supposed not to live in a police state, we are supposed to be a peaceable society effectively self policed. During my trip that night from Camden to Stratford by bus, the only aggression I saw was from those whom, we are told, we need to protect us from violence in the streets.
It was not all of us who were targetted by this. I did not look drunk and was not even asked to show my ticket. It seemed they were only checking those who looked drunk and were therefore easier targets, more likely to have forgotten to swipe their cards.
As we talking liberties here, I’ve taken one and stashed the full piece over at Ministry of Truth, where it sits quite nicely in the sidebar with the documents for Murder In Samarkand and a couple of Orwell’s essays.
Sod the self-harming subscription wall - having just cleared out my cookies, allowances etc., news.independent.co.uk has just asked to save 8 of the buggers on my computer - before then requesting to modify them a grand total of FORTY-TWO TIMES before the page finally appeared.
What the hell is the Indy playing at?
Digging its own grave.
Lecture: The limits of liberty: WeÂ’re all suspects now…
You’ve opened my eyes, David. Roused me from my slumber of misery and complacency. At least you’ve played rather a large part in this change in my life, and I most sincerely thank you for it, my cousin…my friend. ~Kassandra……
Learning About Modern Britain, In Quotes…
On liberty in Britain:
The way cabinet ministers think of themselves today and what they do are at odds. They think of themselves as reasonable, tolerant, humane and liberal people, but their actions tell an altogether different story.
- taken from the…
A copy of Henry Porter’s article is available here