We live in a connected world and any form of innovation usually quickly finds its way to our shores. Crime reports coming out of the city of London detail an alarming increase in street crime where acid or some other corrosive substance is used to overcome resistance from the victim.
It seems that petty criminals are now targeting the personal wealth that abounds on city streets. High on the list are the upmarket mobile phones in people's hands or the music systems plugged into their ears. They are also quick to spot expensive watches ostentatiously worn in public and often the robber is riding a pushbike, moped or a motorcycle for a quick getaway.
This is a crime that comes without warning. The victim has acid thrown in their face, blinding them and causing severe pain. Their property is seized and the thief has melted into the traffic in a moment, and often they are left with permanent disfigurement and severe facial scars.
The London police think this is the crime industries response to increased penalties for those caught carrying a knife in public. Many petty criminals used a knife to frighten victims of street crime and being caught in possession of a knife can now bring a prison sentence. Carrying acid is not illegal - and it is readily available from most hardware stores at a cheap price.
Unfortunately, the very acid now used in crime has many legitimate uses. Acid forms a component of car batteries and replacement is readily available at motor parts stores. A range of acidic products are used in most households to clear blocked drains. It is not an expensive item, usually retailing at about the $10 mark.
Acid has long been a revenge weapon used in British ethnic crime. Honour killings and punishment to make women obey the rules of their old countries sometimes included disfigurement with acid for acts of rebellion. Police investigating such crimes were met with a wall of silence. For a long time this use of acid was carefully hidden away in the ethnic ghettos that formed when migrants from other countries failed to integrate. Now it seems to be making its appearance and wreaking havoc on the ordinary citizens of that city.
The British police are urging their parliament to make possession of acid without a valid reason a crime similar to carrying a knife and it seems inevitable that it will not go unnoticed by the Australian criminal fraternity. We have similar knife laws and we can expect to have acid appear on our streets unless we take similar legislative action.
In this communication age, all ideas spread quickly. Unfortunately the " good " and the " bad " do not differentiate !
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