Everyone Knows Who They Are

I don't wish to bang on unduly about a notoriously non-discussable subject, but the sheer civilised charm of the thinking behind this seems to merit some little comment. Six London boroughs have instituted a pilot scheme involving advertisements aimed at illegal immigrants. Vans are to be driven around proclaiming "Go home or face arrest" and inviting people to text the Home Office for "help" with their repatriation. In an especially high-minded touch, the adverts will also inform legal residents of how many arrests have taken place in their area.

Mark Harper, the flunkey who handed down the Lynton Crosby gospel on this particular matter, seems rather well chosen. He is a strong supporter of the Righteous State, apartheid and all; and he once nearly got himself lynched by his own constituents for defending the Government's proposed fire-sale of public forests - a particularly intelligent move given that his constituency is Forest of Dean. Three years ago he said on BBC radio, "There are definitely some people in our country, and everyone in every community knows who they are, who are able to work, and don't." Hopefully, then, if the pilot scheme succeeds, we will progress with due rapidity to incentivised denunciations, the general display of suspect addresses and official permission for spontaneous Kristallisations of public outrage.