The other day I was driving round my local area of Adelaide when I noticed four youths sitting down on the pavement, a gap between each one, as police interrogated them for some reason. I thought it was curious; I thought it doubly curious when I returned ten minutes later and they were still there, still being interrogated by the local police. I would have thought that by then, the police station would have been more appropriate. But then the methods and means of the local police have always baffled me.
I wonder what accents the police officers had. The South Australian police have found it hard going to find suitable local candidates so they are looking to hire British police officers to meet the shortfall.
One thing that the British recruits might be surprised to find is that Australia does have a ‘class system’ and its most eloquent expression is in the way police treat members of the public. People who are clearly unemployed or blue collar factory workers, such as myself, will generally get a pretty raw deal in any dealings with the police and at the other end of the spectrum, members of the legal fraternity can claim special rights under the ‘Mates Act’, like this chap did.
On one level, this story is an interesting example of globalisation at work. An organisation with specialist HR needs can now search for people from around the world. On another level, it is a warning, not least to any Brazillians in raincoats in Adelaide, to exercise caution. SA police are armed at all times on duty, and the State is not your friend.
Scott – Why do you think Brazilians is spelled Brazillians? You made this mistake throughout your post, so presumably you had a reason.
Or, if you don’t know how to spell the name of the citizenry of one of the largest population countries in world, about whom you are writing, and don’t check it, perhaps you are a little too obessessed with making a pre-ordained chippy point?
so very touchy, verity. “…one of the largest population countries in world”? it appears we all have our bad days, eh?
Is Verity doing fact-checking on all Samizdata posts now?
Well, fact checking is fine. That is one of the strengths of the blog system. But nit picking?
Naaah.
Scott
A very amusing post. Thanks for that. You are right about class, though. My confident manner and university accent do get me respectful treatment most places in Australia — including from medical doctors and policemen