Yesterday (2010-07-14) David Cameron said It is absolutely clear that Raoul Moat was a callous murderer, full stop, end of story.
We may have seen the end of Raoul Moat’s story but, unless we learn and think, the story will repeat itself.
Imagine a warehouse that is not only full of valuable goods but which also contains several randomly distributed piles of scrap paper. Every now and again, one of the piles bursts into flames. The staff rush to put out the fire and then everyone, company directors included, stands around mourning the damage and loss.
Doubtless you would suggest to them that they might like to put all the scrap paper in a metal bin outside for disposal, which would end the problem.
So why is it that we condemn the consequences of social problems but rarely bother to try to prevent them in the first place?
If you believe in original sin then you may as well stop reading now. For everyone else, people who commit crimes in this society are a product of this society. When we tackle the social problems we will simultaneously tackle crime. It is clear that Raoul Moat was mentally ill. It is also apparent that he had been the victim of much injustice. It is very likely that the latter caused, or greatly exacerbated, the former. It is also apparent that many mistakes were made in dealing with him both before and after his shooting spree.
Waiting until people commit crimes and then simply locking them up is like putting endless people into isolation wards but not trying to cure the disease. Indeed, the fact that our prisons are overflowing is testament to exactly that kind of approach.
Moat’s crimes were terrible and certainly worthy of condemnation. But the correct response is to discover what happened to make him the way he turned out, and then to take action to try to stop it happening to others.
Or, like our new PM, we could just say “full stop”, wait until it happens again, and then revel in another little popularist condemning session.
…And again this evening (2010-07-15) on Question Time there was another valueless condemn-fest, which was greeted with much applause.
People clap and people think. Rarely do they do both together.
See also: Raoul Moat – Neither heroic nor callous
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