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Wow, caught this tidbit this morning concerning UK crime and how they are handling it.

Is relevant to thread; how would our supreme court handle this one?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/nottinghamshire/8578631.stm

No doubt in my mind how illegal this is here.. Is this legal there? Random drug testing and searches on the street. Except it's not really random, you were 'suspect' if you were between 13-24!




Profiling is an interesting topic which I'm not sure has been nailed down the same way in all cases. For example, in the insurance industry, if it can be statistically proven that certain groups have more wrecks, that whole group can be charged more for their premiums. If somebody in that group actually has an accident, his/her rates go up even more. This is a form of profiling, and it is legal.

However it is also statistically true that a very high percentage of terrorist activity in recent years has been done by a highly identifiable demographic group. Yet, it is not OK to single them out for more diligent searching at the airport.

There needs to be leeway to use common sense in society. Randomly harassing a group because you don't like that group shouldn't be OK. In countries where there has been genocide, that's always the first step. Disarming them is the second step.

However, where it is known there is a demographic with a certain problematic terndency there needs to be a way to address those individuals without bothering those who are basically minding their own business.

It should never be OK to intimidate a group by taking them out behind the building and beating them up without a trial and without repercussions. But there should be more we can do to identify people who are suspicious so law enforcement can constrain their activity in ways that make it harder to act against society. The guy at Ft Hood is a good example. Many people saw that coming a mile away, but there was nothing they could do because of profiling laws.

Last edited by Pat Marr; 03/22/10 01:05 AM.
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