aludra is the lesbian love of sirius's life (aludra) wrote in cm_media, @ 2009-10-09 21:43:00 |
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WIZENGAMOT RULES ON DOMESTIC PRECAUTIONARY ACT A. Wentworth LONDON -- In a move heralded by family groups and safety lobbyists, the Wizengamot has passed the Domestic Precautionary Act, a proposal put forth by the Magical Council for Greater Britain after a second set of kidnappings took place late last month. Under the provisions set forth by the Act, all Ministry-registered citizens will now have access to home ward assistance via the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, beginning 2 November 1980. A temporary sub-committee has been formed for the purpose of setting guidelines for a Ministry approved security standard, the basis of the Precautionary Act. Using this standard, teams of hitwizards and curse-breakers will be assigned to citizen residences to check and, if necessary, enforce security wards. These security teams will also be equipped to install additional anti-intrusion wards as an extra layer of security. Both services are entirely optional (information on opting out by 30 October follows this article), though the Ministry has advised that families with young children take the time to owl the Ministry with questions and concerns before refusing the service. The Ministry also warns citizens to be aware of the practical restrictions of these measures. Wizards and witches living in muggle populated areas should be aware that anti-intrusion wards are triggered only by intrusion via magical means (ward breaking). Though physical altercations committed within the perimetre of protective spells will alert the Ministry's law enforcement teams, witches and wizards living in muggle areas are advised to take extra safety precautions or, if unduly concerned, to contact the Ministry for aid in moving to wizarding locales. Though some are calling the act 'too little, too late,' Ministry spokespersons have made it clear that the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, under the direct advisement of the Minister for Magic's office, wished to exhaust all other potential protective measures before asking the public to accept direct involvement. "This is really the best compromise we've got to offer," said Auror Eustace Williamson, who, though supportive of the act, expressed scepticism about public reaction. "Some people want us to keep them safe, but leave 'em alone while doing it. We're going to do our best to prevent more focused attacks, but the people out there have got to want us to do it." Though many law enforcement officials were adamant about the importance of having trained aurors involved in home safety, most Ministry representatives agreed that it should and would remain optional. "The Ministry cannot force law-abiding citizens to help themselves," said Ms Aludra Wilkes, a contact from the Minister for Magic's office; "we can only ensure that opportunities to protect their families exist and hope that they will take advantage of those opportunities." |