Moral Standards Matter

In a culture where everything is tolerated and nothing is condemned, crime doesn’t just grow, it flourishes. We’ve become so fixated on root causes, structural excuses, and “lived experiences” that we’ve forgotten the most basic truth of any functioning society, evil exists, and when you don’t call it out, it doesn’t retreat, it advances.

The real battle in public safety is not just fought on the streets or in the courts. It’s fought in the moral framework of the society itself. When that framework collapses, when people no longer know right from wrong, or worse, are punished for saying so, criminality becomes not only tolerated but justified.

The refusal to judge has become a virtue. And in that vacuum of judgment, criminals have found a safe space. We are told not to shame shoplifters because they’re “struggling.” Not to condemn violent teens because they’re “traumatised.” Not to question predators in high office or low alleys because “we don’t know the full story.” But the public does know the story. They live it. They pay for it. And too often, they’re blamed for noticing it.

Moral clarity does not require cruelty. It requires honesty. It means calling a thief a thief, a predator a predator, and a liar a liar, without waiting for a committee to redefine the terms. Criminal behaviour is not a misunderstood cry for help. It is a deliberate rejection of responsibility, often repeated, often escalating, and often protected by institutions that fear public disapproval more than they fear real harm.

Let’s be clear, values are not abstract ideals. They are operational boundaries that define what is acceptable in the environments we are tasked with protecting. Without them, security is just theatre. You can have all the cameras, patrols, and incident reporting systems in the world, but if your culture won’t call out evil when it shows its face, the threat remains embedded.

Security officers understand this on a visceral level. They see the same faces return day after day, unpunished, unchecked, and unashamed. Because somewhere between the courts, councils, and commentators, someone decided that judgment was a greater sin than assault.

But moral standards are not oppressive, they are liberating. They give good people the confidence to live, work, and speak freely. They give offenders a clear line not to cross. And most importantly, they remind society that there are still things worth protecting, and worth standing up for.

When moral standards are clear, enforcement becomes simpler. Behaviour that violates shared norms is confronted, not excused. Shame re-emerges, not as cruelty, but as a natural consequence of unacceptable behaviour. And like any deterrent, shame works best when it is visible, immediate, and reinforced by the community.

Some will argue that shaming is outdated. But in a world where the offender is glorified and the victim silenced, shame is one of the few tools left that speaks louder than ideology. It holds a mirror to the behaviour and forces accountability where courts and counsellors have failed.

This is not about imposing religious dogma or moral puritanism. It is about reclaiming common sense. You don’t need a theology degree to know that harming the innocent is wrong. You don’t need a task force to know that public safety depends on public standards.

You need courage. And clarity. The courage to say what everyone already knows, and the clarity to enforce it without apology.

Because a society that can no longer name evil has already surrendered to it. And those tasked with security, justice, and protection must be the first to say, “Not here. Not on my watch.”

From the author.

The opinions and statements are those of Sam Wilks and do not necessarily represent whom Sam Consults or contracts to. Sam Wilks is a skilled and experienced Security and Risk Consultant with 3 decades of expertise in the fields of Real estate, Security, and the hospitality/gaming industry. Sam has trained over 1,000 entry level security personnel, taught defensive tactics, weapons training and handcuffs to policing personnel and the public. His knowledge and practical experience have made him a valuable asset to many organisations looking to enhance their security measures and provide a safe and secure environment for their clients and staff.