Police sorry for billboard blunder
MERSEYSIDE Police apologised yesterday after an advertising van claimed being offensive is a crime.
The billboard was designed to encourage people to report hate crimes to officers and was run alongside a social media campaign.
But the force sparked fury after declaring “being offensive is an offence”, leading to claims they were acting as “thought police”.
Senior officers yesterday admitted the campaign “although well intentioned, was incorrect”. Supt Martin Earl said: “We would like to clarify that ‘being offensive’ is not in itself an offence.”
The Crown Prosecution Service says hate crime is where a person demonstrates hostility towards the victim’s disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity.
At the weekend the Sunday Express reported how the Freedom of Speech Union, set up a year ago by the journalist Toby Young, has provided legal support for between 500 and 700 individual cases.
The Government has announced plans for a “free speech champion” to ensure freedom of expression in England’s universities.
FASHION stars have been accused of siding with Brussels in a row over new Brexit rules damaging the industry.
Leading figures, including Katharine Hamnett,Yasmin Le Bon andAlice Temperley, attacked ministers after they were urged to use their “star power” to persuade the EU to make changes. More than 450 models and designers wrote to the Government saying businesses now need “costly work permits” for each member state they visit and “a mountain of paperwork for their products and equipment”.
A government source said: “The industry is frustrated with Brexit and Covid restrictions, which is why we are working seven days a week to help them. It is not unreasonable to expect the EU to reciprocate the generous arrangements the UK offers.
“It’s disappointing these campaigners don’t want to make that case.”
Ms Hamnett said the new rules mean customers are paying an extra 30 per cent.
But the English designer said the industry should not have to approach the EU to solve the problems. She said: “Our government is supposed to represent us.”
A WHITE nurse has won £26,083.19 in compensation after she was suspended for reporting that her black colleagues were given more work than her.
Jeyran PanahianJand told bosses on the children’s ward that staff were divided between the “Essex girls” and ethnic minority employees.
The white nurses atWhipps Cross Hospital in East London got less to do. But managers told Jeyran to stop talking about it as she was upsetting colleagues, then they suspended her.
An east London tribunal ruled she had been victimised by Barts NHS Trust.
Employment judge Sarah Moor praised her for “speaking up when she herself was not personally affected”. She ordered a lifting of the suspension.