What is it with Mermaids and the police?

[Macareaux]

Following on from the alacrity with which HM constabulary rush to do the bidding of Dr Haddock, here are a couple of tweets by Mermaids Gender showing how cosy their relationship is.

[Terfing]

Isn't this the same police force that helped cover up Jimmy Saville?

Can't say I have a huge amount of respect for them...

[cheesymashandbeans]

Really? You do realise that neighbourhood police officers attend these kind of thing for pretty much any community group that invites them... church, temple, scouts, LGBT, primary schools, care homes.. the list goes on... I'm sure all of those groups have their pictures taken with attending officers too.

You're making a mountain out of a molehill. It is Neighbourhood police officers actual job to get involved in community events.

[Nightcloud]

Are they not hosting rather thsn merely attending?

[nauticant]

The dodgier the police force, the more they have to distract attention by taking up meretricious causes.

[RadicalStitch]

This just makes me want to scream!!!! What can we do? Surely this is politics? Would it be acceptable for the police to attend a Christmas party thrown by a political party or pressure group?

[OrchidInTheSun]

They hosted the party cheese. They didn't just turn up.

This is a discredited charity which has links to a suspended GP on its website

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

This is a discredited charity which has links to a suspended GP on its website

Not just suspended. Convicted in a criminal court.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46400184

[BrienneofTERF]

Lesson learned, we need to host a radical feminist party and invite Cressida Dick and her underlings along.

[Iused2BanOptimist]

Brienne Can I have an invitation please?

[RadicalStitch]

Post from mermaids. Gross.

[ChattyLion]

I like the sound of this party!

[Ereshkigal]

The tweeter asks a very pertinent question.

[LizzieSiddal]

It would be interesting to know what other Christmas party’s this police force host.

[ToeToToe]

The police are not merely attending community events. They are undergoing intensive "LGBT awareness" training from trans advocate groups.

Manchester Police tweeted their support of the aggressive "Terfs out" sticker campaign in Manchester gay village - that women who were considered 'terfs' would be thrown out of the pubs/clubs there.

They did withdraw the tweet after an outcry - but Manchester Police demonstrated that's where they're at - endorsing women being forcibly removed from premises for their opinion.

Several police forces have paid visits to people due to gender critical tweets - eg Graham Linehan, Posie Parker - but won't attend for actual rape or death threats against women (eg Carolwithnicehair). Come to think of it, they won't attend for actual physical crimes like car vandalism or burglary either.

Something is rotten here.

[ToeToToe]

And I'd like to know who paid for this? It's either charitable donations or a police force said to be in a funding crisis.

[Needmoresleep]

Were all the parents happy for their children’s faces to be shown on Twitter.

When I helped run a children’s sports club, we were so, so careful. We needed parents written consent and no photos were taken without having permission in advance. The sports centres we used were equally strict.

Or are Mermaids, or the Police, somehow given a pass on this type of thing.

[BrienneofTERF]

Lused you’d be first on the guest list, , lets start ingratiating ourselves with the boys and girls in blue and develop a radical feminist awareness kit for them, TRA is so last year.

[theOtherPamAyres]

How is the police officer at fault?

Mermaids is a charity supported by Children in Need. It advised the makers of a recent ITV drama about a transgender child. Its helpline number is given out by reputable organisations. It is involved in training public bodies and enjoys endorsements from local authorities and the Department of Education.

Unless the officer is tuned into feminist voices on Twitter, or gender critics' carefully worded articles in the Times, Spectator and Mail, then they will have a positive view of the charity. They may even believe that the charity is saving lives.

Until such time as there is a different narrative, I cannot blame the individual police officer. The blame lies with funders and government - the ones who have the power to exercise due diligence, to monitor feedback about the charity and to respond to public disquiet.

[Macareaux]

You are right Pam Ayres
Let's hope the article in the Times starts them thinking and triggers an investigation.

Perhaps what we need is some kind of representation to the police from GC feminist groups. I know they are busy but if any of them want to fundraise for this project I'll chip in.

[GreenHats]

Why is a police force hosting any Christmas party other than one for its own employees and families?

[Bowlofbabelfish]

I seem to remember reading a while back that S. Green (of mermaids) has a close family member high up in WYP? Is that correct?

I cannot imagine the rank and file, dealing with the sharp end of life day in day out are driving this. The police officers I know are grounded firmly in reality - this must be coming from above.

[LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD]

And today the lottery:
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/child-sex-change-charity-handed-500-000-by-national-lottery-dvbt7t2kb

[Ereshkigal]

Why is a police force hosting any Christmas party other than one for its own employees and families?

YY it's just bizarre. Who paid for it? What possible relevance does it have to police work?

[flyingdragonzog]

I don't think it actually has any relevance but it's always helpful to draw associations for the public and gaslight - police work closely because so many trans people are being abused and committing suicide. Never mind that it might not be strictly true or might remove money or attention where it's needed - the T needs the attention more

And also abusers always get "inside" to avoid suspicion... harder to challenge someone who's pals with the police etc

Jimmy Saville was quite friendly with the authorities wasn't he...

[Terfing]

Also, it's nice to see that austerity isn't having such a bad effect on the police force after all!