Better behaviour required, not more laws

Sir,

I should like to make an appeal to all MPs, MSPs, councillors and all lawmakers that in 2020 they make no new laws.

At the beginning of this new decade they should improve the laws they already passed. I would even like them to go further and reduce the number of laws that are in existence.

Now please don’t get me wrong, I am not against all laws. What I fear is that instead of addressing the issues which are negative to individuals and society, legislators believe that by extending what are regarded as crimes will change society for the better. Their belief is wrong.

We know that parking on pavements is wrong; ‘upskirting’ is horrifying; smoking in a car in which there are children is unacceptable; dropping litter is shameful; driving through a red light is dangerous.

What we need is the range of social and cultural influences that help us feel that we should behave in a positive way. In the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s the majority of people regularly attended churches and religious organisations. In these environments people developed feelings of what was right and wrong.

Positive behaviour was also developed by participating in the extensions of these organisations through activities in young mother groups; women’s guilds, choirs, and religious celebrations. These helped develop a positive moral compass in people.

Equally, most children and young people went to youth organisations such as the Girl Guides, Scouts, the BBs, army and naval cadets. Even into the 1990s local authorities ran youth clubs and had excellent people called ‘youth leaders’. No more. ‘We cannot afford them’ is the call of the day. Without them the honourable behaviour of society will continue to deteriorate.

So my plea to politicians is simple – stop

making us all criminals by passing more and more laws and start supporting and encouraging agencies, groups and people who indirectly and directly instil in individuals behaviour of which all can be proud.

Finlay Craig Cove