Switched on the BBC news at 10 last night (I’m normally in bed by then!)
First story was Johnson and Corbyn’s debate, lots of clips of them talking about funding cuts, NHS, police etc.
Next story was the horrific story of the man released from prison by mistake who went on the most horrific rampage of violence, rape and kidnapping until he was caught. The details of the story showed that the system had failed twice - once by not recalling him to prison, then by releasing him without being reviewed by the parole board as was stipulated in his sentence. The story also revealed that where he lives they are currently short 100 probation officers. His victims included a young brother and sister and their mother, right up to a woman in her 70s. It’s honestly one of the most disturbing cases I’ve ever heard. Apparently when he was arrested he told police “if you’d caught me after the first two, none of the rest of this would have happened”.
The next story was about the horrific case of the teenager who threw a young boy from the Tate Modern viewing platform. Until I watched this I didn’t realise that the teenager had planned this in advance and had done so in order that he could be on the news and talk about the lack of treatment he’s received for his autism, mental health issues and personality disorder. It’s one of the most horrific crimes I can think of, by a young man who is obviously extremely disturbed - where was the intervention he so clearly needed, not only for himself but to protect others? I have twin toddlers with ASD and I know from experience that they’d have no diagnosis and no support without me fighting for every single speck of it. The perpetrator was under the care of the local authority. Local authorities are billions in deficit, which is only increasing. The NHS is painfully under-funded.
I see this and I see the tragic consequences for society of budget cuts to criminal justice, health and social care. I believe in personal responsibility - these men are 100% responsible for their crimes. But the criminal justice system’s primary function is to protect society from criminals. The purpose of funding support for people with severe mental illness that can lead to violence (which is obviously a small subsection of mental illness) is not just to help that person, but to protect society from those who are a danger.
Obviously this is just one day’s worth of news, but these aren’t isolated incidents.
AIBU to think that properly funded services could prevent some cases like this? That actually it’s not just the person who doesn’t receive the service who’s at risk as a result, but all of us? Or so others not see that connection or not think it’s a factor?