Tony Blair Scares Me More Than Bush Does
Forget that “due process of the law” junk: Tony Blair wants to institute summary justice:
From the UK Telegraph:
He claimed that the courts were failing to protect the law-abiding citizen. The criminal justice system was “too complicated and laborious” and the police were constrained by restrictions and difficulties.
He cited the example of a police constable who saw someone throw a brick through a window or abuse an old lady.
“If you have got to take that person all the way through a long court process, you are not going to do it,” he said.
Mr Blair said he had introduced fixed penalty notices to try to get round the problem. Offenders who disputed such a notice issued by the police could fight the case in court.
“Summary justice is tough, it is hard, but in my judgment it is the only way to do it,” he said.
From Samizdata:
So in other words, rather than just arresting the person and then determining the facts in a trial, we are just supposed to trust that the police will always act in good faith and impose summary justice only against the truly guilty and with only the best judgement.
Yes, of course. The British police are incorruptible. You don’t agree? That’ll be a two-week prison sentence.