by Michael Smith
Is this just total incompetence, stupidity or both?
Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell, who last year had to apologize after leaving confidential ministerial correspondence on a train, which an honest traveler returned. He now has another honest passer-by to thank with regards to yet another security lapse, so to speak.
This time the minister has managed to lose his wallet, containing a Parliamentary security pass, on a busy central London street.
The wallet, which, according to the Sunday Mirror, also contained bank cards and cash and was dropped as the MP got out of a taxi, was handed in to police by a member of the public who found it on Soho's Dean Street.
Mr Purnell's spokesman said: "James dropped his wallet when returning from some sales shopping. He is very grateful to the member of the public who handed it in."
In the previous incident, Mr Purnell had been working on papers from his ministerial "red box" during a journey from Macclesfield to London's Euston Station on October 4, 2008 which he duly left behind when disembarking the train.
The missing papers were returned three days later after they were picked up by fellow passengers.
A spokeswoman said at the time that Mr Purnell had not broken any rules in taking his red box on a train.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said of that episode: "He'll be as concerned as me that the rules for the future ensure that these things cannot happen."
And bingo, it has happened again.
Why on earth did was the security pass in the wallet of this incompetent minister in the first place. Ever heard of pickpockets, Mr. Purnell? Apparently not. He also does not know the first rule about security passes, military ID cards, warrant cards, and such like: they do not, repeat n-o-t into the wallet with cash and store cards, credit cards, etc.
Far too often, however, this rule is being broken, whether for reasons of total stupidity or laziness, by all those that should know better, including police and security services personnel. How many cops, here and elsewhere, have I seen who have their police ID card in the window slot in their wallets? Too many, if you ask me.
While this time – yet again – no real harm was done it could have been different.
One really must ask as to whether this is total incompetence or stupidity or, possibly, both, of this minister and, I must say, this government as a whole.
How can anyone trust them with anything. Incompetence, stupidity, and lack of sense of security and all combined have been the hallmark of this government while, at the same time, they keep talking about the need for tighter security.
Oh, yes, as a means to control the people of these islands but not as far as real security is concerned. All they are concerned about is how to create a total surveillance society and a way to monitor what each and every individual in this country, from child to pensioner, is up to, where they are and what they do.
All this is not making the country any safer in reality and does not reduce crime or the possibility of terrorist attacks. All it does is taking away liberties from law-abiding people and making them into criminals in the eyes of the law enforcers for now it seems to be “guilty until proven innocent” and “yes, you have rights unless the police say you don't”.
What we do need is real security and people who make sure that our data is secure and also other information that they are entrusted with.
© M Smith (Veshengro), January 2009
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