You had some useful replies already Winsor, but one point of clarification
is that anti-social behavio(u)r is not a "crime" in UK either. There is a
civil (not criminal) legal process by which local government can apply for
an ASBO (anti-social behavio(u)r order) against anyone who has acted in "a
manner that caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress"
They have been used to restrain a person who made several hundred
malicious/threatening calls to our equivalent of "911"; to put a stop to
persistent harassment of neighbo(u)rs; against persistent use of offensive
or racist language, threatening others. And so on.
It seems to me it's a way of tackling social problems *without* resorting to
criminal law, and without further adding to the prison population. Some may
see that as a "Good Thing". Some may not!
--
Piers
-----Original Message-----
From: olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Winsor Crosby
Sent: 07 February 2005 02:19
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [OM] [OT]British Language
Please forgive this completely off topic query to the British members.
I am rather fond of watching the Prime Ministers Questions on our CSPAN
station. I need some translation. If you could enlighten me on a couple of
terms which block my understanding of the arguments I would be very
grateful.
1. "Anti-social behavior" which is not a crime in this country and just a
matter of rudeness.I am sure it is a euphemism for something else.
2. "Intercepted evidence" which seems to be an issue the handling of
terrorist trials.
Any translation would be appreciated.
Winsor
Long Beach, California, USA
==============================================
List usage info: http://www.zuikoholic.com
List nannies: olympusadmin@xxxxxxxxxx
==============================================
==============================================
List usage info: http://www.zuikoholic.com
List nannies: olympusadmin@xxxxxxxxxx
==============================================
|