I suppose it could be interesting, yes, as a thought experiment. A good example of that I suppose would be Jeremy Corbyn liking that Mear One mural. For some, he was merely agreeing with the depiction of capitalism as being built on the backs of the labour of the oppressed. For others, he was complicit in an act of anti-Semitism.
I think it differs from case to case, and also on how you define complicity. Is it an act, or merely a standpoint? For me, anyone in the Council or LA who knew about the Rape Gangs but took no action is complicit, and should lose their jobs. But for others, they might count merely as bystanders.
Thought experiments like these can be helpful, but in the case of the Rape Gangs, what I would like to see is a full national reckoning. I would like:
- a national enquiry, pulling out key themes and similarities between the different known gangs
- Safe systems established for friends and relatives of gang members to inform anonymously
- A multi-Force police task force led by a senior Home Office civil servant to seek out and arrest perps who have heretofore escaped justice
- Survivors to be provided with support including psychotherapy
- a proper conversation about monetary compensation for survivors.