The system v children and motorists

[Martin Cassini]

Britain is breaching the UN Convention on the rights of the child, says the Children's Rights Alliance for Europe. It is the most punitive nation in Europe, with child protection services unfit for purpose. "We punish children through the courts for things that were once seen as pranks," says Dr Mike Lindsay. "Six children were given Asbos for climbing a tree in Gloucester. We seem to want to criminalise and punish everyone." He is calling for an overhaul of the juvenile justice system. Parallels with traffic controls abound. Our freedom to move and make intelligent decisions based on context is restricted. The system of priority makes roads unfit for people. The citizenry is punished for non-obstructive parking or entering a bus lane to let an emergency vehicle pass.