Other Forces have us all as potential paedophiles

New Labour has been keen to extend the remit of Other Forces. These are the shadowy elements of the state, some working in quangos, some wandering the streets with beady eyes. New Labour trust none but their own.

We are all now potential paedophiles. But some potential paedophiles are more dangerous than others. Whilst the New Labour state sees fit to set up another quango that gets all the opportunity to let the Other Forces loose on our lives, this quango only does a particular job. The quango in question is the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). It will oversee checks on adults who work with children and vulnerable people. But not all adults in this position. That's the crazy part of it all.

The quango is headed by Sir Roger Singleton. He will become Nosey-Parker-in-Chief of the New Labour regime. This will not be about the interests of children. Far from it. Sir Roger's main aim will be to have authority to safeguard the interests of the government. After all, it wasn't a parent taking kids to a football match that was the problem. It was the Other Forces lamentably failing in their duty of care to keep Ian Huntley (a convicted felon) off the streets in the first place.

All involved in the Huntley case were a shameful bunch. There is only one way to keep known and convicted paedophiles away from children. Monitoring them. However, potential paedophiles (those with lusty ideas but not known to the Other Forces) are of no use whatsoever to the ISA. Unless of course we are all going to spend a day in some cell having our innermost thoughts, fantasies and desires beaten out of us.

Sir Roger tells us all to calm down, as if he feels an eSure moment coming on. Consider the issue "rationally" he opines. Well I have, and I don't like it Roger! You are going to become a highly paid snooper.

Let's consider the workings of the ISA. Anyone taking part in activities involving "frequent" or "intensive" contact with children or vulnerable adults three times in a month, every month, or once overnight, must register with the ISA. So that includes slumber parties, all activity regarding clubs and social events. Children will be monitored, parents will be monitored, social club officials will be monitored. Sir Roger wants information. Who will be telling on whom?

All this information gathered will be shared and passed around, thereby ensuring the tittle-tattle mill gathers momentum. We are told by Sir Roger that this is not about "informal arrangements between parents" but about formal arrangements. Come off it, the difference is Humpty Dumpty language. I would hope there was some formality in any arrangement I make concerning my children! But if you are playing that game, all that parents need do is to create "informal arrangements". Clubs and groups will keep out of it and parents will create their own arrangements. The law here is an ass indeed.

An insiduous aside from Sir Roger came when he said "It is about ensuring that those people who have already been dismissed by their employers for inappropriate behaviour with children do not simply up sticks and move elsewhere in the country to continue their abuse". What does he mean by this? Surely this is about criminal records? No, it is not. You see the Other Forces will be using all sorts of material gathered in. What is inappropriate behaviour in the eyes of "an employer"? If Sir Roger is relying on tittle-tattle and not the guilty outcome of a court case, then we all have something to be concerned about.

I think we should be watching Sir Roger Singleton as much as he is watching us!


PS. Other Forces is a term used by Sir Roger!