Nanny Bans Yobs

Dear oh dear, another fuss from Nanny's acolytes about what words can be used to describe people.

Funny how Nanny is so keen to "modify" our language.

As Orwell warned in "1984"; by controlling the language, that state can control what you think.

Anyhoo, this time Nanny's gimlet eye has fallen upon the word "yobs" (scummy type people who cause a nuisance of themselves). Seemingly Nanny thinks that the word "yobs" unfairly categorises a section of the community that is entirely blameless, ie teenagers.

As such Nanny's chums in Scotland Yard have banned its officers from using the word "yob", for fear that it might alienate young people.

Needless to say this edict has the backing of Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, who we discussed yesterday.

The ban applies to all reports submitted by officers to the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), which oversees the force.

The ban has been brought about because a "safer neighbourhoods" report by Chief Supt Stephen Bloomfield, put before MPA members, noted that Scotland Yard was "pro-actively tackling gangs and yobs across London".

Cindy Butts (can I say Butts on a public site?), the MPA's deputy chairman, got rather hot under the collar and told Sir Ian that the term was "alienating" saying:

"I have a problem with the language of 'yobs'.

It sort of sets up and defines too much a 'self' and 'other'."

Eh?

Asst Commissioner Tim Godwin replied:

"I agree.

I'm sorry about that.

We won't use that again."

Afterwards AC Godwin confirmed that the use of "yobs" was now officially banned. He claims that "yobs" could be taken as a slur on groups of law abiding youngsters, who gather for innocent reasons.

He said:

"It can reflect on groups of youths who congregate,

rather than those who carry out criminal activity.

We have to be careful because of the need to engage with young people."

You should engage with trouble makers by giving them a clip around the ear!

Needless to say there is now some confusion; other words such as "hoodlums" or "tearaways" have not been banned.

What about scumbags?

Will Sir Ian Blair be investigating Tony Blair who used the word in the Commons in 2004, or Labour which pledged in its 2005 manifesto to "exclude yobs from town centres"?

Maybe the police should in fact be focusing on catching criminals, rather than on the words used to describe them?