UK police have urged the public to report ‘non-crime’ incidents in an effort to stop non-criminal comments from hurting the feelings of those affected.
The message sent out by the official Twitter account of South Yorkshire Police said, “In addition to reporting hate crime, please report non-crime hate incidents, which can include things like offensive or insulting comments, online, in person or in writing.”
“Hate will not be tolerated in South Yorkshire,” the department said. “Report it and put a stop to it #HateHurtsSY”
The tweet which has prompted thousands of angry responses, comes after it was revealed South Yorkshire Police were responsible for policing areas of Britain where many of the worst rape gang incidents took place. This includes the small town of Rotherham where, at conservative estimates, 1,400 girls were gang raped, according to Breitbart.
Attached to the original tweet was an image that said, “Hate crime is an incident or crime, which is perceived to be motivated by prejudice or hostility against a person’s race, faith, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity. Hate hurts. Report it and put a stop to it.”
In addition to reporting hate crime, please report non-crime hate incidents, which can include things like offensive or insulting comments, online, in person or in writing. Hate will not be tolerated in South Yorkshire. Report it and put a stop to it #HateHurtsSY pic.twitter.com/p2xf6OLoQZ
— SouthYorkshirePolice (@syptweet) September 9, 2018
Responding to the message, one individual reminded the department of the children’s song about sticks and stones. The SYP support staff however told the individual that although non-crime hate incidents are not a criminal offense, they can feel like a criminal offense to those affected.
“While non-crime hate incidents may not be criminal offences, they can feel that way to those affected and can sometimes escalate to crimes taking place. We work with partners to try and prevent this,” the department said.
Hi Neil, while non-crime hate incidents may not be criminal offences, they can feel that way to those affected & can sometimes escalate to crimes taking place. We work with partners to try & prevent this. More info on our website: https://t.co/yJGyHXT7LM
— SouthYorkshirePolice (@syptweet) September 10, 2018
This is, once again, just another assault on free speech. There’s no virtue in shutting down free speech, so the idea of ‘hate speech’ was invented. Hate speech provides a way of silencing an opponent while still claiming the moral high ground.
To quote the UK’s own Rowan Atkinson, “To criticise a person for their race is manifestly irrational and ridiculous, but to criticize their religion, that is a right. That is a freedom.”
“The freedom to criticise ideas, any ideas – even if they are sincerely held beliefs – is one of the fundamental freedoms of society. A law which attempts to say you can criticise and ridicule ideas as long as they are not religious ideas is a very peculiar law indeed.”
Twitter reacts:
Just a reminder: South Yorkshire received about the worst of the grooming gang scandals. The local councils and police colaborated to silence victims and whistleblowers for over a decade. Absolutely disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/s7vBDPjg1b
— Orwell & Goode ?? (@OrwellNGoode) September 10, 2018
“please report non-crime hate incidents, which can include things like offensive or insulting comments online”
Office for Police Conduct is currently overseeing 98 investigations into South Yorkshire Police for grooming gang failures, and they're focused on LITERAL non-crimes. https://t.co/S9VMTbBJz8
— Jack Montgomery ن (@JackBMontgomery) September 10, 2018
Having put an end to Muslim rape gangs, acid attacks and female genital mutilation, the South Yorkshire Police are now putting their full attention towards mean tweets. https://t.co/aEq6lmb6tX
— Ezra Levant ? (@ezralevant) September 10, 2018
The UK has a rampant violent problem, yet people are being told to report "offensive or insulting comments" that don't even equate to hate crimes. Absurd. https://t.co/9D7iPcEU71
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) September 10, 2018
It is disgraceful that you have plenty of #police resource to investigate non-crime hate incidents but ignore the Muslim grooming gangs targeting young white girls in Yorkshire. I find your tweet offensive, but don’t investigate my complaint as you have real crimes to investigate
— John Perry (@John_Perry_UK) September 10, 2018