Friday, July 06, 2012
Sweeping British speech laws ban even atheist posters
Nobody must be offended by anything in Britain
POLICE have this afternoon issued a statement to clarify their position over a Boston pensioner who has vowed to display a poster labelling religions as ‘fairy stories’.
Officers say that they have not told John Richards he is committing an offence for displaying the poster but said he could only face arrest if he causes offence and refuses to take the poster down when they ask.
In a statement Lincolnshire Police said the 1986 Public Order Act states that a person is guilty of an offence if they display a sign which is threatening or abusive or insulting with the intent to provoke violence or which may cause another person harassment, alarm or distress.
The statement adds: “This is balanced with a right to free speech and the key point is that the offence is committed if it is deemed that a reasonable person would find the content insulting.
“If a complaint is received by the police in relation to a sign displayed in a person’s window, an officer would attend and make a reasoned judgement about whether an offence had been committed under the Act.
“In the majority of cases where it was considered that an offence had been committed, the action taken by the officer would be to issue words of advice and request that the sign be removed.
“Only if this request were refused might an arrest be necessary.
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22 comments:
How could Britain have free speech when just about anything you say is "offensive" to one of their home-grown pansys?
Many people are starting to realize that by saving the Brits in WWII, we were simply part of a huge joke played on the world by Hitler, since he wanted no part of Britain. Perhaps he knew what it would become. He was crazy, but he wasn't stupid.
The price of open borders and a liberal parlaments Thank god were no longer a british subject
How can anyone ever say anything when anyone else can deem it."offensive"? I think they are nearing the point of paralysis. Where in British or for that matter American law that states people have a right to not be.offended?
More liberal insanity in actions. Calling illegal aliens illegal aliens, even illegal immigrants, to liberals is a "slur" thus a thought crime.
http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/05/opinion-why-illegal-immigrant-is-a-slur/?iref=allsearch
His act is probably not illegal, but what is disturbing is that he could be harassed by being put through the legal process if someone complained. And the reason is the vague wording of the law: "with the intent to provoke violence or which may cause another person harassment, alarm or distress."
Obviously, provoking violence has always been a crime. As for the rest, I can see the point of banning a sign saying: "Jon J Ray, we're going to get you!"
It may not actually provoke violence, but it is intimidating, and is likely to cause genuine alarm. But too often, people are being taught that merely hearing something you disagree with is a form of harassment.
I am distressed that you are distressed. Please stop immediately or I shall be forced to call the police. If they distress you, please don't call me as I am too distressed to discuss it. I hope this doesn't distress you.
I'm a Christian and welcome his opinion/beliefs. The police should not interfere with freedom of expression.
At least they seem to be equally fascist towards all. Unlike the US where only one ethnicity is charged with thought crimes.
Both ss 4 and 5 of the Public Order Act may have application here.
Both of them require intent or knowledge that the message is threatening, abusive or insulting.
I doubt this mental element could be made out.
If they were truly equally oppressing free speech in all quarters then there must be a massive backlog in the courts for the 'offensive' signs paraded by Muslims in numerous protests in the last couple of years, especially signs threatening death to people who don't support their views. If this law was truly to be upheld then evey mosque in the UK should be closed and many Muslims should be in jail.
"Political correctness is a far greater threat to freedom and liberty than is terrorism..."
"Religion wrecks everything."
1:45, the common denominator is man. See how atheistic governments murdered over one hundred million people. No religion involved. None. Fact.
Anon 2:04, silly boy. Don't you know that dictators do not like competition when it comes to power? And what is the biggest competition a dictator has? Religion. Eliminate the competition. Dictator has more power. Simple, eh?
Any actions taken by the police or local authorities can be legally challenged in the UK just as the US. Of course the police want to keep public order regardless of anyone's supposed freedom of speech.
1:03 You know full well that the USA capitalized on the fall of the european empires during and after WWII, and whatever help the US gave to Britain or Europe was to their own long-term advantage to limit the power of the USSR. It's sad so many US soldiers had to die during WWII (and all the other wars and conflicts the US government sends them to as cannon-fodder, and it's still on-going).
2:59, silly girl, dictators are men. common denominator is man. case closed. pwnage.
7:38. Of course they are men. Duh. We have a fucking genius here who can state the obvious. I laugh at your superior "intellect".
3:29 hogwash. The people in those countries loved the USA because we helped them. They did not love the USSR for "helping" them. Read history, learn.
12:57 so you agree that man is the common denominator. pwnage.
Political Correctness is just another word for SOCIALISM
8:04 - not sure what you mean. Have you misunderstood 3:29?
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