British police banned from saying 'Evening all'

With the number of ordinary words that are banned, it would be no surprise if they felt it was too risky to open their mouths at all on many occasions

"Police officers in the UK have been told to avoid using the classic "Evenin' all" greeting because it may confuse ethnic minorities. Warwickshire Police's handbook 'Policing Our Communities', issued to every member of its staff, gives advice on communicating with people from different ethnic groups in a section entitled 'Communication, Some Do's & Don'ts'.

It states: 'Don't assume those words for the time of day, such as afternoon or evening have the same meaning.' A force spokesman said: 'Terms such as 'afternoon' and 'evening' are somewhat subjective in meaning and can vary according to a person's culture or nationality.

'The point is there is an element of subjectivity leading to a variation between cultures that we need to be aware of - taking steps as far as possible to ensure our communication is effective in serving the public.'

In another section entitled 'Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Communities' the force's handbook confusingly states that the phrase 'lesbians and gay men' is likely to be satisfactory for most situations when talking about sexual orientation.

But it says 'homosexual' is 'best avoided' as the word is 'interpreted differently by many, and relates to sexual practice as opposed to sexual orientation.'

Following a Freedom of Information request to police forces and fire services about the guidance they give their staff on their use of language, it has also emerged that a number of organisations, including Essex Police and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, instruct staff to avoid the phrases 'child, youth or youngster.' This is because such phrases could have 'connotations of inexperience, impetuosity, and unreliability or even dishonesty'.

The same guide also warns against the phrases 'manning the phones', 'layman's terms' and 'the tax man', for 'making women invisible'. London Fire Brigade instructs its staff not to use the terms 'businessmen' or 'housewives' because they 'reinforce outdated stereotypes'.

Marie Clair of the Plain English Campaign said: 'Those writing these guides are over-analysing things. It's political correctness gone crazy. 'I feel sorry for the poor emergency service workers who have grown up in a country where the words they being told not to use are familiar and part of every day language. 'Is anyone really going to be confused by 'evening'? And if you can't say what a lovely afternoon it is, what are you meant to say - what a lovely 3pm?

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