Bad Orchard?

[drmorgans]

How have the Met, perhaps so many officers of the Met, got away with their abusive behaviour for so long?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63147341

[douglas9401]

Despite the ongoing campaign to highlight certain organisations for condemnation this is something that happens every day in all walks of life in every country on Earth.

Of course I would say that as a white person, good only for being an object of hate and loathing by fat blokes and others with an agenda.

[drmorgans]

I'm a white middle-aged man too but I haven't set up a whatsapp to spew racist, sexist, homophobic bile with my similarly inclined mates.

[sp1814]

"Of course I would say that as a white person, good only for being an object of hate and loathing by fat blokes and others with an agenda."

???

[Zacs-Master]

Me neither, SP.

[Spicerack]

I think you know what Douglas means, boys.

Is it illegal to be a racist?

[Zacs-Master]

Any crime can be prosecuted as a hate crime if the offender has either:

demonstrated hostility based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity
Or.....
been motivated by hostility based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity

https://www.cps.gov.uk/crime-info/hate-crime

[Spicerack]

I know you can't discriminate or act in an overtly racist manner but if you have racist feelings or tell what are considered racist jokes. Is there any law against it.

[Zacs-Master]

Feelings, if not made public - obviously not.
Jokes......a matter of perception

From my link:
The police and the CPS have agreed the following definition for identifying and flagging hate crimes:

"Any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice, based on a person's disability or perceived disability; race or perceived race; or religion or perceived religion; or sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation or transgender identity or perceived transgender identity."

There is no legal definition of hostility so we use the everyday understanding of the word which includes ill-will, spite, contempt, prejudice, unfriendliness, antagonism, resentment and dislike.

[Spicerack]

Must have changed the stupid part of the Hate Crime laws.
Something like, If anyone considered you were guilty of a Hate Crime then you were automatically guilty of a Hate Crime.
Remember all the Non Crime Hate Crimes (lol) that used to go on people's records.

[THECORBYLOON]

"If anyone considered you were guilty of a Hate Crime then you were automatically guilty of a Hate Crime."

It would have to go to court first but I'm sure you knew that.

[Zacs-Master]

There has been a recent case where a man challenged the fact that the Police had turned up on his doorstep (I think he may have been at work) and said that he was being charged on the grounds of a comment made on social media which indicated he might be about to commit a hate crime. He won and I think it was this which changed the law.
Tried Googling it but couldn't find anything (I heard it on Radio 4 about a month ago).

[Zacs-Master]

Found it!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-51501202

[drmorgans]

I think the difference is that the man suspended was a former policeman and some of the other people in the group were also former policeman. If I hold discriminatory views, express them, then there is a limit to their effect, but if the police hold those views then it can have much more of an impact.

[Spicerack]

The whole controversy, Corby, was exactly that. You didn't have to go to court.
If somebody perceived you'd been racist towards them then you were automatically guilty.

[Spicerack]

Probably regret answering you, Corby. But it was such an open goal I couldn't resist it. Sorry.

[Gromit]

// If somebody perceived you'd been racist towards them then you were automatically guilty. //

Nope. No prosecution then no guilty verdict. The complaint went on your file, but that was about it.

[Spicerack]

Is that all? Pfft! All the fuss they made, I thought you could go to prison for a few years.
Thanks again for explaining stuff, gromit. On your record, eh. Lol.

[sp1814]

I think we’re missing the point here - the police officers were suspended and if the papers can’t even print their ‘jokes’ then it’s probably best they take up a less sensitive occupation.

[jno]

this one has, sp1814. Immigration official at the Home Office.