John Humphrys and his guests on BBC R4 are discussing the case of a woman who colluded in torturing her child to death, got a 5-year prison sentence, the minimum allowed by law for such a crime and is now set to go home early, thanks to a decision by the Parole Board. The discussion includes both harsh criticism and support regarding the decision. At the end Mr Humphrys says "Shouldn't we trust the Parole Board?"
The question wasn't directed to me, but let me answer him: no, we shouldn't. Why on earth, or in Britain, should we? How - knowing what we know; why, knowing what's just been said on his programme! - on earth, or in Britain, could we??
The truth is, the fact is: no state institution, on earth or in Britain, can be trusted. Not to mention those which time and time and time again have let people down or, if you let me paraphrase, fucked things up big way. And Mr Humphrys should know better, he's been covering all this for a century or so now: the local Parole Board doesn't work, the local system doesn't work, the local state has collapsed.
The state has collapsed and Baby P. should know a thing or two about it: one body after another, one blow after another, his home was assessed as safe for him, his mum as kind to him; even as he was being killed.
