Free Fire

Given what the self-regulating minions of Murdoch achieved with nothing more than money, mobile telephones and a fundamental lack of decency, it should come as no surprise that the Government believes companies whose personnel carry guns and tasers should be allowed to self-regulate also. In addition, the watchdog for the security industry is to be moved into the profiteering sector, thus freeing it from any taint of accountability to Parliament or the public, or "red tape" in Modern English. As theology dictates, transparency will be improved, accountability enhanced, standards raised and the undeserving punished; and once the taxpayer has picked up the tab for the inevitable cock-ups, "savings can be passed on to customers", such as failed asylum seekers and utilisers of law enforcement emporia. As with the press, it appears the Government likes its mercenaries raucous.