A Threat To Us All

Although he is wrong about anonymity (there should be none either for adult accusers or for the adult accused), Peter Hitchens writes: 

Do you ever hesitate about getting someone else punished, either in case you are wrong, or because you can’t bring yourself to ruin someone else’s life? 

It seems to me that you have to be very sure indeed about something before taking actions which might end up with someone else being locked away for many years, and eventually released into a bankrupt, burned-out life.

No doubt some people, rapists for example, do deserve this. And if you are quite sure that they do, then I can’t see why you should object too much to being asked – not compelled, asked – to allow police to access your mobile phone records.

I’m dispirited by the fuss about this sensible precaution against wrongful conviction, being spun as a gross intrusion. Those asked for these details remain entirely anonymous and need fear no public exposure.

I believe in the punishment of wrongdoers. That imposes a duty on me to be very sure that the right person is convicted.

But there is now a fierce campaign to get convictions for rape regardless of any safeguards. Its supporters already presume that anyone charged with rape is guilty. It is politically driven.

And I fear that this campaign will start demanding that rape charges are no longer heard by independent juries, but by state-appointed assessors (probably all women). 

They may well get their way. And if they do, how long will juries last in other cases? The politicisation of justice is a threat to us all, and we won’t realise it until it affects us personally.

Don’t I know it.