h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

>>because the British system is one of precedent.

Actually...yes and no. Statute + precedent. In the Ryan case, we're talking about statute. *The law is not made as as we go along.*

>>The only real solutions are broad education, talk and time.<

or

http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/h2g2/brunel/F19585/ext/_auto/-/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCbfMkh940Q

No, I'm not saying it should be repealed, I'm saying it should be enforced and Match Controllers (senior Police at games) should be sacked if they take no action.

Maybe some of these cuts everyone's bleating about should be aimed at the incompetents in the Police.

<<Actually...yes and no. Statute + precedent. In the Ryan case, we&#39;re talking about statute. *The law is not made as as we go along.*>>

And the next person to burn poppies at a Remembrance Day Parade can only be fined £50 due to precedent. If a magistrate/judge imposes a significantly higher fine or sentence, there would be grounds for an appeal.

I don't understand the black and white stuff going on here about police and law. It simply doesn't work like that in some circumstances. Law and order is more important to the average person than Law in the short term.

But yes ultimately Law is fundamental in the long.

""I don't understand the black and white stuff going on here about police and law.""

the police must walk a fine line between law, order, keeping the peace and protecting the public.

its all well and good arresting someone breaking a law but if it sparks a riot that leads to public unrest, is it justified

its all a BIG picture balancing act



carefull effers you might agree with me....Again??!!

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When we've had 50+ years of sectarian divisions, hatred and mayhem focused upon a game of football, a game where the Police have systematically condoned sectarianism then yes, if taking action results in short-term pain it *is* worth it.

And the relevance in this discussion about Koran burning is we should have an absolutely level playing field when it comes to religious intolerance, hatred and goading. Either we have a laissez-faire approach where no religion has a right to the protection of the law, or *all* religions have that protection. So yes, hammer the Koran burners but equally hammer the poppy burners. Both are about religious intolerance and hatred.

At the moment, the impression given is that Scottish sectarianism is sanctioned by the police and attacks on other religions have a varying response proportional to how members of that religion may respond.

It's not good enough.

Sorry...I still can&#39;t see that poppy-burning is the same as shouting anti-Muslim slogans (while burning a stolen Qur&#39;an). Distasteful though it might be, it falls under a different class of offence and thus a different set of laws. (Ive covered the reasons previously but can rehash if anyone is unconvinced)

It is genuinely difficult to see how we could impose a rigid and punitive law of Breach of the Peace without getting into some *very* scary areas.

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As for swl&#39;s Level Playing Field point: Totally agree! But we dont have to wait until the broken parts are fixed before doing anything, surely? We could be waiting forever. In Cumbria, the law is clearly working as it was intended.

>>attacks on other religions have a varying response proportional to how members of that religion may respond.

No. Its this bit I&#39;ve been trying to explain. Repeatedly.

The laws of racial aggravation are not about how the group to which a victim belongs may react*. They are about how others may be encouraged to behave towards other members of the victim&#39;s group unless racially aggravated acts are especially deterred.











* I *think* acting in an offensive way in the hope that others will kick off against you falls under Breach of the Peace. But dont quote me. I assume there&#39;s also Racially Aggravated BoP - but that&#39;s not what we&#39;ve been talking about.