JUST A THOUGHT - ON BRITAIN'S STREET VIOLENCE AND 'STOP AND SEARCH.' PART 5.

A sensible and practical balance has to be drawn between the need to facilitate appropriate exercising of  'stop and search.' 

Against the danger of inappropriate 'stop and search' operations leading to causing avoidable distress to citizens who are subjected to them, and in possible avoidable civil disorder.

That requires having an appropriate 'stop and search policy and practice', which has adequate input from ordinary and influential citizens from all sectors of the population. 

In other words, the 'stop and search policy' needs to be able to 'be owned by the citizens' and subject to review by them.

And what of 'the community', of which we expect so much of? What is it, 'the community', and does it really exist, or is it no more than a social construct without any definable form or cohesive organisation? 

If 'the community' does not really exist, then how can it really play a positive and recognisable role in helping to evolve, exercise and promote social order and well-being?

Is it not the case that, outside of 'tribal' and 'religious' 'communities', when we speak or refer to 'the community.' 

We are mostly or always just using a formless and even nebulous category to refer to people of one ethnic or national group.  

Whose most noticeable symbol of group identity, is that they share the same physical and/or national, cultural attributes? 

Indeed, at times, cultural identifiers which could set groups of people apart from the 'rest of society,' and even lead to tensions and disorders. 

Thus we have 'the community', including 'the religious' and 'the tribal community', which, although having aspects of their social organisation which can enable effective social control.  

Can also be dissonant and problematic, when it comes what is required to promote a more 'liberal society.' 

To be continued!