Murder highlights society’s wider failings

IT is somewhat disconcerting that politicians and others in senior positions should simply be concentrating on the failings of police forces because of one recent tragic event. What such tragedies highlight is the extent of much wider failings within society, and specifically the role that mental illness plays.

Almost 60 years ago, Peter Sellers introduced us to the IPO gang (impersonating police officers), which taught some of us to be wary of those purporting to be professionals. The film was The Wrong Arm of the Law, in 1963.

Today, we would perhaps call them scammers. In more recent times, our lives or livelihoods have been endangered by nefarious GPs, surgeons, airline pilots, judges, even politicians.

Daily, we entrust our lives to the professionalism of others. The moment you enter a taxi, board a train or bus, or scheduled aircraft, or just drive along your local street, you rely very much on the integrity of others. Defensive driving may not be a panacea but provides some protection.

The one common thread in all this is the prevalence of mental ill health, which is not confined to any particular profession.

By concentrating on criminality and ignoring the role which mental illness plays, we prioritise retribution for serious crimes rather than improving mental wellbeing, which often could have prevented such crimes being committed.

The main conclusion to be drawn is that we all need to be wary, and not wasting time and resources in blaming others.

Anthony G Phillips Salisbury