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The Alex Cairnie thing raises loads of issues but while there be truth in parts, it is largely conjecture and hearsay. If he has proof + witness accounts of these crimes as he claims, then he must immediately cooperate with police/social workers/charities in the area. Thread:
1) People trafficking has been identified in Govanhill previously, with individuals and trafficking rings convicted in court https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-50345366
2) It is not exclusive to Govanhill, but that does not take away from the existence of it. (Like Catholic priests abuse argument - what about CofE, Rabbis etc. - deflection doesn’t remove accusation) https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-scotland-54086928
3) Previous alleged practices of ‘selling children (for sex etc.)’ were found to have no proof, with the perpetrators and victims found not to be Roma people https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/17212312.amp/ but -
4) This does not mean they categorically never happen, nor does it mean there is a police cover up or similar
5) The scale of which Alex Cairnie claims this happens is enormous - again, while there may well be some of this in existence, to allege this on the scale he does is to claim that entire communities/ethnicities/ countries should be considered potentially complicit
6) Alex Cairnie is not a Govanhill resident, and was previously working there to ‘help landlords deal with problem tenants’. This in tandem with some of his statements show a predisposition to negative views of ‘these people’. (Also landlords bear huge responsibility in this)
7) The biggest risk is conflating genuine concern for these alleged practices with anything the Roma community do. On multiple occasions there are supposedly Roma males simply walking past and it is seen as engaging in criminal activity
8) Half of these are just social problems. Take a walk around any deprived area of Glasgow and see if you don’t see rubbish, old mattresses, needles etc. These are real problems but the fact that there are Roma people there does not change anything - correlation ≠ causation!
9) Phrases like ‘we’re a civilised country’, ‘This used to be a nice area’, apart from being as old as time, are absolute pish.
10) As is too often the case in these discussions, it stops even being about the children/women who are victims, and rapidly becomes a justification for prejudice
11) TW - SNP CRITICISM: It is very valid to hold Nicola Sturgeon to account for the squalor and deprivation in her constituency.
12) It is not valid for SNP supporters to say that these problems can only be solved if we get independence
13) Repeated highlighting of the drug paraphernalia lying about is a horrific issue - again, SNP must take accountability for this given how long they’ve been in power https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/drug-deaths-in-scotland-reach-worst-level-on-record-rising-by-6-in-a-year-12162228
14) Become politically active and try and help those in society who fall into these living conditions - don’t just spread vitriol
15 - Translate the twitter/Facebook anger on the issue into support for charities and activism which genuinely helps victims of any of these issues. Saying ‘Alex Cairnie is a hero’ serves nothing other than his ego https://www.nspcc.org.uk
https://www.aberlour.org.uk
https://www.aberlour.org.uk
