British watchdog bans offensive police advertisement!
I rather like this one!
"Britain’s advertising watchdog said on Wednesday it had banned a police advertisement encouraging people to report neighbors whose activities raised ’suspicions,’ saying it could offend innocent citizens.
The radio advert for the Anti-Terrorist Hotline listed as suspicious behavior activities which could also describe law-abiding people, the Advertising Standards Authority said.”
Source
7 comments:
Unwise to encourage snoops and trouble-makers. This went on in the soviet-bloc, especially the DDR (East Germany)so everyone lived in fear of their neighbors.
if a person happens to see suspicious behavior why wouldn't they report it? It won't hurt the individual they suspect if they're wrong. many acts of terrorism in the USA were prevented by sharp people who noticed something suspicious.
Yes who would mind the police banging at your door because a spiteful or delusional neighbor had been given the green light to call the police on any pretext. If the police encourage reporting can they logically also charge people with wasting police time?
Your point is silly because people can report their suspicions now, without any special police program. While i can understand peoples fears of creating a "big brother" environment, we must also realize the police can't be everywhere. Protecting the public is not only a police responsibility, but a public one as well. As for the potential for abuse, name one government system that is free of that potential.
Well, I for one think reporting a neighbour's suspicious activity should be discouraged.
I, for instance, while watching the stars through my telescope happen to notice my lovely neighbour undress and shower every night. She very slowly rubs a bar of soap up and down her silky skin and then clenses places the sun don't shine. I feel it's my duty to check on her just in case she slips and knocks herself unconscious.
Now, that seems a bit suspicious to me but I'd never think of reporting it to the police. I'm certain she's as innocent as the day is long.
bogsidebunny
The point was that an additional "green light" is given to the reporting of neighbors and others, and that it would be assumed that "mistakes" will just be overlooked by the police who encouraged it, thus promoting malicious or time-wasting activity.
The people really don't need an additional green light, not with the 911 calling system we have here in the US. (the Brits have 999?) In NYC, the police 911 system receives "several million" calls a year, meaning no encouragement is needed.
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