Piggies Up

I heard on the radio today that there was an idea being circulated in certain official circles about locking people up before they have committed any crime. This is something, so the argument went, that would only happen if the person had a tendency toward committing an offence due to a psychological instability. I think this is dangerous ground, to presume someone will be a criminal, because where will it stop.

I can see a time when a child is being born and the first words it hears are, ‘he’s so cute,’ and ‘he’s got his dad’s smile,’ and ‘ anything you say will be taken down and used in evidence against you...’

It’s traumatic enough for a baby, moving along the birth canal... or whatever it’s called... toward the light, only to find it’s a policeman’s torch and he’s saying, ‘come out! We know you’re in there! Step away from the placenta and put your ten little piggies in the air or we’ll slap your mum!’