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NO PHOTO'S AT JUNIOR COMPETITIONS It seems that “Child Safety” policy has reached new boundaries; I refer to the British Judo Association who along with other sporting bodies is forbidding anyone taking video or photographs of anyone under the age of 18 at any of their competition, without prior permission. When asked why they had done this they said because of the problem of paedophiles children had to be protected when pressed they said sometimes a child may have to take off a torn jacket or torn pair of trousers on the side of the mat. This could lead to people of dubious character taking photographs. For anyone who has attended a Judo competition they will know that nearly every spectator is either a fellow Judoka, relation, friend or coach. This is Political Correctness gone mad it is a sledgehammer to crack a nut and says a lot more about the person who thought of this mind then any potential threat. Being fair to the BJA I expect they have been directed to do this from a governmental department. I have already heard of a local case where a Grandmother wanted to photograph her grandchild and was threatened with expulsion. One must ask the question where does this stop the next obvious step is that all spectators must be vetted before they can watch any children’s sport. Can you imagine the scene a little old grandmother forgets to inform the organiser she is bringing her camera, she innocently takes her camera out the bag an “Image Protection Officer” spots her. He pushes his Image Response button a siren goes off, a voice booms out “Pervert Alarm” several officers bundle her out the door, Police confiscate her camera and develop her film. They find incriminating evidence photographs have been taken of the child in a swimsuit (playing on the beach), the grandmother is summoned. Mean while an eight-year girl who’s parents let her roam the street has just been picked up by a stranger. Sound far-fetched give it another few years and then tell I am talking rubbish; this rule infers that anyone who uses a camera is a potential pervert. It is interesting to note that the public as whole are disgusted by paedophiles, yet they allow their daughters some as young as eight to wear all sorts of make up, adult clothing, the music industry broadcast sexual explicit songs aimed at the 12 to 15 year age group, youth magazines with explicit sex articles, educationalists inviting children to experiment in all kinds of sexual deviation, TV soaps showing middle aged men having relationships with school girls. There was even talk that once a child is capable of sex you could be infringing their Human Rights if you restricted their activities. They say we live in a Mad World well I am sorry to say it getting madder by the minute. Yours truly, Martin Clarke |
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