This Is A Joke, Right ?

The Times of London fresh from its campaign against those who would deny alcohol to all those expectant mums out there now goes after Americans and their high falutin' view of their legal system.

American justice? Isn’ t that a contradiction?

Hmmm, do the writers at the Times read their own national press ?

"In 2004, police in England and Wales were given the power to issue £80 fixed penalty fines instead of an arrest for first-time offences and thefts of goods worth less than £200."

"Litterers could face on-the-spot fines as part of a government drive to clean up shabby streets and gardens.Councils could employ wardens to enforce the fines against anyone seen throwing rubbish on public or private land."

"Bar staff serving customers who are drunk could be hit with an £80 fixed penalty notice, the government has announced.
Ministers have revealed that the on-the-spot fines, aimed at cracking down on binge drinking, will be introduced on Monday."

"LONDON (Reuters) - It could be the 4 million closed-circuit television cameras, or maybe the spy drones hovering overhead, but one way or another Britons know they are being watched. All the time. Everywhere.

The latest gizmo to be employed in what civil liberty campaigners are calling Britain's "surveillance society" is a small, remote-controlled helicopter that can hover above inner city streets and monitor suspected criminals."

And from the Times, the day before the "American Justice" article...

"NEW anti-terrorism laws are to be pushed through before Tony Blair leaves office giving “wartime” powers to the police to stop and question people.

John Reid, the home secretary, who is also quitting next month, intends to extend Northern Ireland’s draconian police powers to interrogate individuals about who they are, where they have been and where they are going.

Under the new laws, police will not need to suspect that a crime has taken place and can use the power to gain information about “matters relevant” to terror investigations.

If suspects fail to stop or refuse to answer questions, they could be charged with a criminal offence and fined up to £5,000. Police already have the power to stop and search people but they have no right to ask for their identity and movements."