Modern neighborhoods have become a conglomeration of both the good and the bad elements, inherent in our society. It can be argued that, in today’s information age, the focus has shifted from the industrial townships of yore to modern sub-urban neighborhoods. There is no doubt that this is a change for the better, because the standard of living has taken quantum leaps from the previous generation. Due to the high proportion of nuclear families living in today’s suburbs, security has become a paramount issue.
Security is not a trifling issue, because it impacts the productivity of society as a whole. But, due to increased population, it is not feasible for an average suburban neighborhood to go for a full fledged security system. Therefore, it’s essential for a neighborhood to be self-aware and take all necessary precautions in order to safeguard the interests of it’s residents. There immediately arises the question of patrolling, and in particular, the controversial issue of stop-and-search procedures.
On one hand, stop-and-search procedures may be deemed as a necessary evil in order to better protect the interests of the neighborhood. For example, drug peddling is a prevalent menace in almost every suburban neighborhood of the world. Stop-and-search procedures have the potential to seriously curb the spread of this malaise. There may not be any clues as to who the drug dealer is in a particular neighborhood. It may also be the friendly Average-Joe. There is also the sick evil of child pornography pervading our society. Only stop-and –search procedures have the necessary power to put an end to this menace.
On the other hand, stop-and search procedures may be perceived as a direct assault to the fundamental rights of an individual. Such procedures directly affect an individual’s dignity and the way he’s perceived by his peers. This is a problem typically encountered in more affluent neighborhoods where there is increased emphasis on individual and family privacy. Residents don’t want their standing in society tarnished by such humiliating procedures. Such procedures will be vetoed outright if proposed in any reasonably affluent suburban society.
In conclusion, stop-and-search procedures have both merits and de-merits. While it may be the messiah in working class neighborhoods, it’s the proverbial lynchpin in affluent surrounds. The application of such procedures in modern society should be done carefully. A forceful application of such procedures is essential in more ‘dangerous’ neighborhoods. But it should be more subtle in neighborhoods where it may harm the sentiments of the residents. Overall, stop and search procedures are essential to preserve safety in modern neighborhoods, but it’s enforcement should be followed with some discretion.
