The Law of the Land

I realise that yesterday I commented on a story from midweek. Work and/or college have recently conspired to keep me behind on most news stories, hence all the catching up I'm doing.

In that spirit, Peter Hitchens in the Mail on Sunday reminds us of a story from midweek whereby an "overzealous" "traffic cop" confiscated a scarecrow dressed as a traffic warden designed to promote a local village festival. The scarecrow was returned after much pestering, albeit without the mock "speed radar gun". The creator had previously received permission to put up the scarecrow in that design outside her property.

This is not a new thing. Two years ago police in Mickle Trafford near Chester diverted a patrol car "on the way to the scene of a fatal crash" to confiscate a scarecrow local Christopher Strong had mocked up as a traffic cop, again even after he had enquired guidelines on the matter.

Hitchens criticises the police involved for being "heavy-handed, officious, humourless, monopolistic, scornful of the public".

But there's something else going on. Local Inspector Dave Buckley later commented the scarecrow "portrayed an incorrect and inappropriate message to passing motorists" as "speed radars are used to prevent casualties on our roads and to address the irresponsible actions of motorists. They should not be re-created by the roadside in jest."

I wasn't aware it was the police's job to decide what was appropriate and what wasn't. I wasn't aware the police was a new moral authority. So far as my knowledge takes me, I thought it was their job to enforce the law of the land and act as public servants. It sounds rather like Inspector Dave Buckley is talking down to us.

This seems to be a problem in police forces across the country, which is why you get people like Ian Blair with their attitudes. When the law was represented by the bobby on the beat, local and familiar, it didn't seem to be a problem. Now, though the police are too far removed from the people they are supposed to serve, rather like the politicians that now direct them.