Read Online Heaven's Door by Michael Knaggs - Free Book Online Page A

changes in so short a time? And under that umbrella question, of course, there are so many individual success stories, I guess you could pick any half-dozen and still barely scratch the surface. Where would you like to start?”
    â€œAs I said, Home Secretary, I think you know which one I mean; the one which the prime minister announced at the conclusion of your report and which made most of the headlines yesterday evening and in this morning’s papers.”
    Sylvie paused. Tom waited for her to continue.
    â€œOkay …” She spoke very slowly. “What I want to talk about is the use of expulsion for convicted dealers in hard drugs.”
    She paused. Tom said nothing, his expression completely neutral.
    â€œThis was unexpected, to say the least, and something I believe the prime minister is not totally comfortable with.”
    Tom raised his eyebrows in an expression of mild surprise.
    â€œWould you like to respond to that, Home Secretary?”
    Tom shrugged. “Well, I can’t speak for the prime minister, of course, although it seems unlikely, don’t you think, that he would say something at such an important meeting as yesterday’s – or at any meeting, in fact – that he didn’t agree with. So I’m not sure in what context he said those or similar words, but it would certainly
not
have been the context in which you’ve just implied they were spoken.”
    â€œHis very words were …”
    â€œBut what I will say, if this helps you out, is that being ‘comfortable’ in the sense of safe, cosy, relaxed, et cetera, was not what the overhaul of the justice system in this country was all about. To make the sort of changes we have seen involves a level of risk –
calculated
risk –
acceptable
risk – but risk all the same. And that comes with a certain level of
dis
comfort, at least in the short term.”
    â€œWell, we agree on something, then – we three – you, me and the prime minister – that changing the laws for drug sentencing is a risk. Is that what you’re saying?”
    â€œThat’s what
you’re
saying, but …”
    â€œBecause it seems that in just a few short sentences yesterday the government changed the whole concept and rationale for expulsion; a concept which was extremely radical when it was proposed and which the public bought into on the basis of the very specific circumstances under which you explained it would be applied. To use your own words at the time, Home Secretary” – she picked up the sheet of paper from the table in front of her and read from it – “‘the introduction of facilities such as Platform Alpha will provide a place for serially disruptive elements of our society whose presence adversely affects the community as a whole and individuals within it. These facilities will offer both an alternative environment where they can no longer pursue their extreme antisocial tendencies and, at the same time, a significant deterrent for their doing so. They are
not
designed for criminals in the literal meaning of the word, in the sense that they need not have committed a specific crime. Their banishment will be on the basis of their consistent rejection of the communities in which they live.’
    â€œThat statement could not be any clearer. I repeat,
your
words –‘
these facilities are not designed for criminals’
. My understanding is that dealers in hard drugs
are
criminals. Or are you going to surprise us again, Home Secretary, with the news that this government will be decriminalising cocaine and heroine?”
    Tom drew in a deep breath.
    â€œEverything you quoted from your notes was absolutely correct at the time it was stated. This change is an extension to the use of expulsion to address another – you might say the
next –
priority issue that is affecting the safety and security of our streets. Like a Pareto analysis, you