Stop and Search is tactic the police practice, predominantly, on young black men or men of colour. The rationale behind this trend is that these demographic groups are most likely to be involved in street criminality, such as drug dealing.
The policy of Stop and Search is counterproductive, in that it hasn't made any inroads into the illegal drugs market. Instead, it serves only to further alienate the police amongst many within black communities.
While society looks down and frowns upon drug pushers, it seems to ignore that the illegal drug market is a two-way street. Why isn't society as critical of drug buyer as it is of the seller, pusher?
Sadiq Khan has voiced his concerns of people from the middle-classes fuelling the cocaine market, which in turn triggers the drug-related gang violence.
In September the Guardian reported the following:
"Middle-class people consume more alcohol and illegal drugs than those living below the poverty line, according to a report by a cross-party group of academics and campaigners."
Again, pointing to the middle-classes and illegal drug use. Recently Richard O'Brien, on LBC, posited the idea that since the middle-classes are part of the illegal drug problem in London and by association the gang-violence, that the police should extend stop and search to white middle-class people.
Imagine such a policy being introduced. The howls of indignation emanating from the gentrified corners of Brixton, Clapham, into Battersea and Chelsea. Cries of infringement of civil liberties. Denunciation of the Met from the Ham and High. Hooray Henry's in Sloane Square sweating every time a panda car passed by.
Of course, the very idea is ludicrous. Why would you impose such draconian measures upon an entire demographic section of our society to punish the deeds of the few?
You know where I'm going with this, don't you?
The policy of Stop and Search is counterproductive, in that it hasn't made any inroads into the illegal drugs market. Instead, it serves only to further alienate the police amongst many within black communities.
While society looks down and frowns upon drug pushers, it seems to ignore that the illegal drug market is a two-way street. Why isn't society as critical of drug buyer as it is of the seller, pusher?
Sadiq Khan has voiced his concerns of people from the middle-classes fuelling the cocaine market, which in turn triggers the drug-related gang violence.
In September the Guardian reported the following:
"Middle-class people consume more alcohol and illegal drugs than those living below the poverty line, according to a report by a cross-party group of academics and campaigners."
Again, pointing to the middle-classes and illegal drug use. Recently Richard O'Brien, on LBC, posited the idea that since the middle-classes are part of the illegal drug problem in London and by association the gang-violence, that the police should extend stop and search to white middle-class people.
Imagine such a policy being introduced. The howls of indignation emanating from the gentrified corners of Brixton, Clapham, into Battersea and Chelsea. Cries of infringement of civil liberties. Denunciation of the Met from the Ham and High. Hooray Henry's in Sloane Square sweating every time a panda car passed by.
Of course, the very idea is ludicrous. Why would you impose such draconian measures upon an entire demographic section of our society to punish the deeds of the few?
You know where I'm going with this, don't you?
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