More intrusion please!

Yesterday I wrote about the benefits to society of the ANPR system - despite the documented howls of protest from the liberty lobby and conspiracy theorists about the intrusiveness of the system.

I would like to continue on this theme.

Apparently police can access mobile phone data that can show where you were/are at a certain time providing your phone is switched on - even if you are not using it. Similarly the police, as a matter of course, check mobile phone records whenever there is a significant motoring accident. In both cases the courts will allow conclusions to be drawn from this, which is helpful in crime detection and possible evidence of wrong doing.

If it was down to me I would form a national DNA data base. I can see no reasons why any law abiding citizen should have a problem with this. It would be so helpful in the detection and therefore the reduction of crime.

I have no problem with CCTV cameras in public places. They add to our protection.

If it were down to me I would have pressed ahead with the ID card scheme although I accept now that perhaps we have moved on from paper based documentation. This issue needs revisiting however. One card to accurately determine who you are would have so many advantages to public authorities such as the Police, HMRC, NHS, Social Services and Immigration .

To me it seems to be common sense to target stop and search. If the vast majority of London street knife crime is carried out by black youths then they should be stopped more. If we are trying to prevent Islamic jihad it is surely right that the authorities use precious resources sensibly and not stop little old ladies.

So in summary I argue the liberty lobby are out of step with the general public. We want crime detected. We want our roads and streets to be as safe as possible. We recognise that public funds are in short supply and anything that makes crime detection simpler, cheaper and more cost effective is likely to be a welcome development. The theoretical limitation of liberty or intrusion of human rights are just that for the law abiding citizen - theoretical at best. (For most of us we see their concerns as just wilful paranoia.)

The courts protect us from misuse of information and uphold standards of evidence. As long as we have a strong independent judiciary we have the protection we need as good citizens going about our lawful business.

#ANPR - safer motoring

Some people are very worried by the formation of data bases and invasive surveillance - perhaps we all should be. I have to say I am not particularly because so many advantages accrue to a law abiding society.

One development that surely benefits us all is ANPR - Automatic Number Plate Recognition.

Until fairly recently it was easy for a motorist to get away with driving a car that was uninsured - or had no current MOT, or no Road Fund Licence - and quite often the absence of all three. Add to that a driver may not have a driving licence either or has been banned.

From later this year the DVLC will no longer be issuing paper licences from Swansea.

Everything relating to your car will be held on an instant database. Everything can be done on line. So when your MOT certificate is issued it goes straight on the national data base - so does your motor insurance - car registration on purchase/sale and driving licence changes.

More and more police vehicles and other traps have ANPR reading equipment. In a micro second the sweep reader picks registration numbers automatically and checks them against the national and police data bases. An alarm signals when the machine sweeps an illegal car. Currently 500 cars per day across the country are being caught and removed from the road because they have deficiencies in their paperwork. The analysis is pretty much instant.

So win win win.

• 500 illegal and probably dangerous drivers taken off the road each day to protect other road users.
• quite often the stop leads to the detection of other offences such as drink or drug use, theft or illegal immigration.
• quick detection system saves on police time and reduces bureaucracy.
• higher detection rates will gradually show motorists they cannot get away with it.
• access available to the general public to the same information via an internet search. (only relating to the car). 

Some libertarians point out this is the over arching state - too much information about individuals being held on data bases - too intrusive - too much police power. Is it really? A superb development in my view. Makes criminals easier to catch and as a consequence it must keep the road user safer. So if there is any downside to ANPR - the upside surely out weighs it.

#Herons - an update

I did get around to doing a bit of extra reading about those Grey Herons I was watching yesterday morning. They were there again today - but the spring tide was fully out and they were much further away - and only 3!

So what have I learned? Well Grey Heron's are apparently flourishing across Europe. In Amsterdam they have fully adjusted to urban life and have become rather like Seagulls.

Our Grey Heron population does not migrate as I thought - and UK population is estimated as 68000 birds.

Their wingspan ranges between 5ft and 6ft 6ins so they really are big birds. Yesterday afternoon when I was walking our dog one took off out of the reed beds and bushes. They rise vertically like a Harrier Jump Jet - but with 10% of the elegance and twice the noise as their great wings flap and slap until they get some clearance and then some forward momentum.

They nest in a "Heronry" typically in very large numbers and often feed in relative close proximity to other Herons for obvious safety reasons.

The final bit of startling fact - they don't just eat fish and reptiles like frogs and newts - they take mammals too - small birds - especially ducklings!

It is totally illogical but knowing Grey Herons eat ducklings has put me off them a bit - but I shall get over it - because they are brilliant to watch fish on a still clear day.

My Twitter - it is being read!

I have been firing off Tweets for quite a while now. It doesn't take long - and helps keep me sane - ha! To be honest I thought initially I was entirely writing for my own benefit but copied below is my Twitter Summary for the week issued by Twitter. It did make me laugh.  These Tweets helped you make connections, got people excited, and started your friends talking.

		2,083   Total views       4     Replies       6     Favorites

Your most popular Tweets for the week of 19 Sep:

Nice. People got into this Tweet.         #Newsnight shocking programme tonight.Allegra Stratton half asleep.Laura K flirting with Tristram Hunt.Wishy washy. Lightweight. 6th form.   11:09 PM - 22 Sep 14           217 views     2 favorites     1 reply

Well done! This Tweet got people excited.         #ScotlandDecides looks like a solid no vote. Extra devolved powers to the Scots must mean the other home counties must be offered the same.   03:32 AM - 19 Sep 14           497 views

Nice. People got into this Tweet.         #ScotlandDecides BBC results coverage. Sarah Smith the star. Very bright and on the ball - totally engaging too !   02:13 AM - 19 Sep 14           243 views

#Heron watching

Today's early morning bike ride along the sea wall was especially lovely. It was dead still - high pressure - a slight chill in the air - early autumn. There was no one around much - the tide was 3/4's out - with the mass of Ryde sands exposed. The sea birds were in heaven - probably thousands were on the shoreline - doing what they do.

I got out on Ryde Harbour wall - my daily terminus - and stood as they quite often are - off the Ryde Harbour entrance margins - fishing (I assume) were a couple of Herons - in fact today a line of 4 - equally spaced - statuesque - unmoving - except for when then move - lightening quick but so smooth and deliberate.

The sun was coming up and warming - not a ripple on the mirror water - sat on my bike I propped my foot against the bench and watched them.

Minutes went by - these exotic fascinating birds had my full attention. Herons still seem special - although they are not really uncommon. I don't know much about them - was this a family of 4 - mum and dad and 2 kids. Were they a flock - or did 4 just happen to be there because the fishing was good. How many fish do they need to catch in a day. Do they ever get cold. Do they ever get bored. Where do they go at night?

Watching the Herons was like fishing myself. The same sense of anticipation. Would a fish swim by. Would the strike be in time. Will there be a catch. Will it be a decent one?

In the 10 or 15 minutes I was there - not a single fish was caught - in fact not a single strike was made - just some some careful adjustments made with their long elegant necks and a very occasional step on those almost unseen legs.

If I was Heron - I am pretty sure Ryde Sands was a good place to be this morning despite the slow fishing?

I would like to know more about a Heron's habits and lifestyle. Will I ever get around to it. Possibly not - something else will crop up - but maybe I will find the time.

Grey Heron's you were especially captivating this morning - thank you for that!

Squash league match

Played my 3rd league match last night and got beaten 3 - 0. It was not as bad as it sounds - so bit of analysis.

First of all I have not played since my last game a fortnight ago as holiday intervened. In the past I would not have let that happen - if you are going to play squash leagues you have to play at least twice a week and probably 3 to do yourself any justice.

I went on court with a bit of an excuse ready in my head - not good. Additionally my sensible head told me not to push it anyway. While I have been doing some running, getting into a squash slugging match at 60 without proper preparation is a bit daft.

Anyway I played quite well from the back of the court - but the young guy I was playing was keen as mustard and just the wrong sort of opponent for me on this night. Basically he ran down everything - threw himself around and scrambled a lot of points. It was disjointed and his winners seemed to come off all parts of his racket.

He was a nice guy though - fair - and I enjoyed the sweat and the club banter - so lots of positives.

I have 2 more matches to play in this league - I should stay up and there is still an outside chance of promotion (which I know I am not ready for yet but would be extra satisfying).

Hopefully I can prepare better for next week - it is just the half marathon training that is getting in the way - but then without it would I really be better off?

#Politics is a power game

We cherish our democracy. We have to elect representatives. Therefore we must have politicians.

Politicians come in many guises. Some are careerists, some are conviction politicians. Some are pragmatists some are doctrinal. Some are free thinkers some are tribal. However whatever they are when they set out or whatever they become over time - they all have one driving force in common - a thirst for POWER. Without power you cannot do anything cannot change anything - it just becomes a talking shop.

So the golden rule of politics and politicians must be GET ELECTED AND TRY AND STAY ELECTED.

This simple truism is being starkly played out now. It is fascinating (and I have to say amusing) watching the brutal and raw politics on show over the English devolution issue and what is referred to as the West Lothian question.

I will briefly recap.

• The 4 countries in the Union all sent (and still do of course) MP's to the UK parliament at Westminster.
• However there has been devolution of powers - particularly in the 1990's with the formation of the Welsh and Northern Irish Assemblies and of course the Scottish Parliament. Scots can now make decisions in their own Parliament on matters that affect Scotland and quite rightly English MP's have no say in it.
• It is now promised that Scotland will get even more devolved powers.
• This has highlighted once again in a stark and blatant way the inequity demonstrated by the "West Lothian Question". 
• The West Lothian Question - "For how long will English constituencies and English Honourable members tolerate ... at least 119 Honourable Members from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland exercising an important, and probably often decisive, effect on English politics while they themselves have no say in the same matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?"
• The name "West Lothian question" was coined after Tam Dalyell, Labour MP for the Scottish constituency of West Lothian, raised the matter in 1977 during a British House of Commons debate over Scottish and Welsh devolution.Since the beginning of Devolution and especially the establishment in the 1990s of the new Welsh and Northern Irish Assemblies and Scottish Parliament, this question has taken on a new urgency. In September 2011, it was announced that the UK government was to set up a commission to examine the West Lothian question.
• There is of course a fresh impetus to do something about it - ( ie the fundamental equity position - only English representatives should be able to vote on English laws) - following the decision to give Scotland even more powers - and the fact the Welsh and N. Irish assemblies will will want more devolved power too.

BUT - back to the Golden Rule of Politics - power comes from getting elected and staying elected. 

Dealing with the West Lothian question has proved difficult (impossible) because balances of power both now and going forward perhaps forever are likely to be affected.

A quick explanation :-

Scotland is typically more left leaning in its politics than England - as is Wales. Historically Labour has formed governments in Westminster based on an overall majority formed with the inclusion of MP's from Scotland particularly and Wales. Currently Scotland send 41 Labour MP's to Westminster. (They can all vote on English matters). The Conservatives currently have one MP coming from Scotland.

So the political game being played out :-

CONSERVATIVES - they want to tackle the West Lothian question quickly (on the back of increased devolved powers to Scotland as English voters are mindful now of the inequity posed by the West Lothian question). They argue the electorate want the same privileges the Scots, Welsh and N Irish will have. They argue this is common-sense and fair and nothing to do with increasing their electoral chances in England (where the real power lies because the population is so much bigger).

LABOUR - they cannot take the risk of arguing against English votes for English Laws. (even the Scottish Nationalist Party have no objection - they are happy for England to be self determining). At the same time they know if they concede any change that means they cannot count on Scottish Labour MP's at Westminster they will undermine their chances of power in England perhaps for ever. Conservatives are acutely aware of this.

So their position - "constitution change is a complex matter" - we will form a commission to look into English devolution or an English only parliament and we will set it up in the autumn of 2015 (neatly after the next general election in May 2015). They argue these issues are complex and far reaching and it is right to consult widely and not rush it! Effectively this is an old political trick - commonly referred to as kicking the ball into long grass - (in the hope it will go away and be forgotten about.) ( a political tactic that often works when you have a problem with an issue - see airports, rail links, nuclear power etc etc).

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS - they are not as anti change as Labour but they want something different and are muddying the waters to get it. The Liberals have no chance of gaining overall power via Westminster. However they have been very successful in building power bases in towns and cities and being in power locally. So yes! they want power to be devolved from Westminster to LOCAL AUTHORITIES and new cosmopolitan and regional areas. (at best a very tenuous link to actually resolving the West Lothian question - it just reduces Westminster power)  They argue of course that this is good for business and local democracy - power is too centralised at Westminster! They ignore the the reality explained in the Wiki extract copied below (and say appetites for local power have changed).

Devolution referendums in Northern England were proposed under provisions of the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003. Initially, three referendums were planned, but only one took place. The votes concerned the question of devolving limited political powers from the UK Parliament to elected regional assemblies in North East England, North West England and Yorkshire and the Humber respectively.

On 4 November 2004, voters in the North East rejected the proposal by 77.9% on a turnout of 49%, which halted the government's proposed referendums in the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber which were postponed and then dropped.

UKIP are really only interested in England. They are striving to build their power base here - particularly by taking votes off the Conservatives. They are pressing/embarrassing the Conservatives to put England first and the Conservatives know there is a lot of traction for UKIP with nationalistic minded English voters - particularly on the right wing. In an ideal world the Conservatives would like a bit more time to deal with these issues despite the fact there has already been plenty of research and consultation done on matters relating to solving the West Lothian question. (exposing the Labour call for a further long winded commission). The Conservatives have to try to keep UKIP at bay by ensuring Labour do not get away with delaying tactics (which will increase their chances of power) but disadvantage the English electorate. UKIP will refer to Cameron as weak and letting the English down if he lets the Scots have increased devolution without at the same time solving the West Lothian problem. 

It will be very revealing to see how it unfolds and what the electorate and commentators make of it. Can Labour fend off changes in the voting rights of Scottish MP's in England to preserve their power. Can the UKIP force the Conservatives to steamroller English only interest (even if it means delaying time-scale promises made to the Scots before the referendum) by making sure England gets what the Scots get at the same time the Scots get it. Will the Liberal Democrats sit with the Labour or Conservative position. Will power be devolved from Westminster to the regions or large city conurbations? Will we actually get a separate English Parliament. (my view doubtful because of cost but particularly because it will mean Westminster MP's are likely to lose control/power.) Fascinating stuff!

#Fish

We have recently enjoyed a lovely family holiday on Armona Island, Portugal. Armona is off  Olhao - one of Portugal's leading fishing ports.

Of course Portugal - dominated by its Atlantic coastline has a historic relationship with the sea and sea fishing. Inevitably it is reflected in their national dishes - and it is a joy and for some an eye opener.

It is hard not to feel frustrated with the British consumer who struggle to enjoy much more than Friday cod, fish fingers, farmed salmon, tinned tuna and frozen prawns (and now an obsession with Sea Bass). There is so much more that our fisherman catch but much of it is exported to European markets because we are so squeamish and set in our ways.

If we were more willing to eat a wider variety of fish and shellfish - or at least try it, so many benefits would accrue. We would have so much more choice, the price would come down, it would be healthier for us, our food would have more range and be more interesting and of course our fish use would be more sustainable overall because there would be less pressure on particular species such as the over fished cod.

On Armona - most of the locals seem to have their own small fishing boat and lots of people evidently forage for shell fish. It is a great thing to do.

Pictured below is Olhao fish market and the range of fish available. It is full of local people buying domestic size quantities. There are also a few pictures of the lovely dishes we were able to enjoy!

James loves a steak however!