Light my fire

One of the nuttier ideas you may have missed over the weekend: Britain's police have suggested making flag-burning a criminal offence:

The plans have been drawn up by Scotland Yard and submitted to the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, by Britain's most senior Muslim police chief, Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur.

Mr Ghaffur, responsible for public order in the capital, said he was concerned the UK had come to be seen at home and abroad as soft on extremist demonstrators. (...)

Mr Malik, MP for Dewsbury, said burning a flag was clearly an incitement to violence practised by a small number of "thugs" who get to the front of demonstrations.

"They hijack what are very legitimate and peaceful protests. Not only do they spoil it, but they have the potential to turn it into something much more sinister."

I mean, I'm all for American imports, but come on.

I can't say I altogether understand how telling fundamentalists that burning the Zambian flag is now a criminal offence is supposed to make them think twice about holding violent demonstrations. Is anyone who is willing to advocate the killing of innocent civilians really going to be put off by the thought that they might get nicked for setting light to a piece of cloth? What exactly are they supposed to be thinking here? ("Oh, well, I was going to march to show our displeasure at the west's lack of respect for Allah, may peace up upon him. But without the flag burning part I'll be bored shitless, so I think I'll stay in and play X-box instead.")

I suspect that this one isn't intended to change the situation on the ground at all: after all, as Shuggy notes, the police already have powers to deal with this stuff.

Rather, these proposals are just signal politics for the benefit of the general public. They're supposed to tell us, "Look how tough we're being to protect you."

This would be all very well, except for the fact that public authorities tend to use their powers to the greatest of their abilities - not because we've got a sinister police state brewing, but simply because it makes it easier to Get Stuff Done. If this law were to pass, we'll have suspects found in possession of a Norwegian flag and a lighter, claiming police fitted them up, you mark my words.