| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Cllr Govindia wants to evict rioters | |
| Posted by: | John Hawkes | |
| Date/Time: | 13/08/11 12:52:00 |
| Firstly, let’s put this into some political context. Council Leader Govindia has only just taken up this office and needs to establish with the Conservative Party that he will, like his two predecessors, do everything they require of their ‘flagship’ Council. However, the Conservatives are an elected majority on the Council and can implement whatever policies they want. And it is undoubtedly true that we are all irked to see those that greatly benefit from our taxes turn around and by their criminal acts against us, ‘bite the hand that feeds them’. (That is why we were similarly angry that bankers whose institutions we saved from destruction caused by their own reckless behaviour, still demanded and took mega bonuses). However, if WBC is to use its right of eviction to punish wrongdoing it should publish the policy and procedure it will follow, and not act arbitrarily. It should declare for instance – -what crimes will fall within the scope of the punishment ? -who will decide when the process will be instigated ? -what criteria will determine this decision ? -will elected Councillors or even the general public play a role in this decision making ? -will the process be implemented uniformly and under all circumstances as would be expected from any just system of investigation, trial and punishment ? Finally, will the Council’s Childrens’ Services department be able to respond to circumstances where, say, a 17 year old youth commits a designated crime and his family, including pre-school age children, are evicted ? |