Time to Track Hate

Since the riots in a number of cities across the U.K. this summer, scores of people, mostly men, have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms – and quite rightly so: only immediate and severe punishment can act as a deterrent. What I found particularly shocking is the age of some of those hoodlums: the youngest was 12, the oldest 69 years of age.

I would have imagined that the parents of the 12 years old would have taught him some common sense let alone values, the latter which the oldest rioter equally seems to lack- and he should know better and be a bit wiser at his age.

Our society in general has become quite intolerant (and, just by the way, I notice this with myself as well). You just have to look at the scores of voters fringe parties from both ends of the spectrum attract to realise the growing polarisation of the political landscape.

So scores of rioters of all ages will find out, once they have spent half their sentences and are being released on licence, that their life’s have changed: partners and families may have abandoned them, jobs will no doubt have been lost, all of which should hopefully be deterrence enough to keep them on the straight and narrow.

But I suggest one more step: just as Switzerland has a register (HOOGAN Information System with over 750 people registered) and many countries have sex offender registers, rioters should be made to sign a matching database (say a hate incitement or anti social behaviour register), forbidding them to join demonstrations and possibly even ban them from town centres when peaceful protests are being held. As happens with hooligans in the U.K. and elsewhere: ahead of games where tempers are likely to flare, they are being visited by the police and spoken to. The same should also happen in areas where emotions are still raw and further riots cannot be excluded.

This won’t probably prevent future riots, whether they be over immigration or any other subject matter that excites the masses, but it would, for example, allow repeat rioters to be recalled to prison to serve the remainder of their sentence now handed down, let alone being punished for their latest offence. And it may be harsh for minor crimes, but the three-strikes law in the USA (this requires a person who is convicted of an offense and who has one or two other previous serious convictions to serve a mandatory life sentence in prison, with or without parole depending on the jurisdiction) may further discourage repeat offenders.

This is not a question of opinion, whether in favour or against immigration for example, but a question of how these opinions are being expressed. And to make sure that such expressions of opinion happen in accordance with the law and that they don’t make citizens and immigrants alike feel scared and uncomfortable.