Two news items, side by side, on the BBC site this evening.
Charles Clarke has started to explain the steps he took, as Home Secretary, to deal with the thorny issue of foreign nationals being released after serving time in UK prisons.
I'll let you join the dots.
That the released prisoners are foreign nationals and eligible for deportation isn't racist - the number of UK nationals released on licence after committing serious crimes who then "disappear" is even more worrying but it's great that our over-crowded jails can find space for yet one more "easy target". If only real criminals, the ones who steal or kill or harm people, would be as high profile as those who draw attention to local problems in this way.
Charles Clarke has started to explain the steps he took, as Home Secretary, to deal with the thorny issue of foreign nationals being released after serving time in UK prisons.
"As others have already made clear to the committee, it was only in late March 2006 that ministers, including myself, were made aware of the failure to consider for deportation some foreign national prisoners at the end of their sentence, and when we were aware of this action was then taken."The next item deals with the jailing of 69 year old Miss Josephine Rooney for not paying her council tax. She has withheld it in protest at the conditions in her neighborhood .
I'll let you join the dots.
That the released prisoners are foreign nationals and eligible for deportation isn't racist - the number of UK nationals released on licence after committing serious crimes who then "disappear" is even more worrying but it's great that our over-crowded jails can find space for yet one more "easy target". If only real criminals, the ones who steal or kill or harm people, would be as high profile as those who draw attention to local problems in this way.
7 careful considerations:
Well, you did a fair job yourself of dot-joining. Human nature, isn't it, to go for the easy option?
On the other hand, the lady in Derby has been determined to be a martyr. She has refused to see council officials to discuss the plans they are putting in place to deal with the problems, she has refused to pay despite being given extra time, and has generally made it clear that she wants to go to prison. Somehow I doubt that she has refused to have her rubbish collected, or use any other council facilities that the council tax pays for. Yes, it's ridiculous that she has to go top jail - but what should we do with people who repeatedly and deliberately flout the law?
...and someone has now paid the debt, so she won't go to jail - but of course loads of taxpayers' money will have been spent unnecessarily on the process.
...and now it seems she is a major source of the very thing she complains about:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1810399,00.html
Not sure why Rob but the link you've given didn't work for me - here's where I found it
Yes, that's the link. I had two goes at posting it - the first didn't work either. Don't know why. Anyway, I think it does put an entirely different slant on the story of the sainted Mrs Rooney. I trust she's no relation, or she could be in even more bother...
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