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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hate crime TV advert should not have been aired?

25 replies

abacucat · 10/12/2018 12:25

I think it is great that hate crime is being highlighted. People need to know it is a crime.
BUT the police numbers have been cut. The police can not respond to the level of crimes that are already being reported. How on earth are they possibly going to be able to respond adequately to the increase in reporting that this advert will lead to.
All this advert will achieve is people reporting hate crime, and then experiencing frustration and disappointment as the police do not have time to investigate properly and thus the offender will not be prosecuted. Which is the worst possible outcome.

OP posts:
Gaspodethetalkingdog · 10/12/2018 12:27

The police should be investigating burglary, physical attacks, rape, murder, financial fraud, not someone saying nasty things on instagram.

RatRolyPoly · 10/12/2018 12:43

I haven't seen the advert, but could it be useful to show potential perpetrators of hate crime that what they're doing is unacceptable?

Oh, hang on, I've just read a little overview of the ad. From the blurb:

Andy Tighe, director of communications at The Home Office said: “Through this bold multimedia campaign, the Home Office wants to show members of the public what a hate crime is and that it is unacceptable."

The final line: “It’s not just offensive. It’s an offence.”

Hopefully it will get a few would-be perpetrators to realise they can't just run their prejudiced mouths off if it strays into verbal abuse and harassment.

greendale17 · 10/12/2018 12:44

@Gaspodethetalkingdog

What if someone has sprayed painted racist graffiti on the side of your house? Acceptable is it?

boppinAround · 10/12/2018 13:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
abacucat · 10/12/2018 14:06

Most of the examples shown in the advert are ones that I think virtually everyone would want to see police involvement in.
My concern is more that this is misguided at a time when police are being cut. We need to increase police numbers before we do something like this.

OP posts:
RatRolyPoly · 10/12/2018 14:12

My concern is more that this is misguided at a time when police are being cut. We need to increase police numbers before we do something like this.

I think it's the other way around; it's misguided to cut police numbers when there are very real challenges facing our society.

If there's a chance this could reduce incidences of hate crimes by shaming or educating people out of criminal behaviour, then there's no time like the present!

Original poster
abacucat · 10/12/2018 14:15

You actually think the advert could change people's behaviour? I am sceptical, but I hope you are right.

OP posts:
Aquilla · 10/12/2018 14:17

There's no such thing as hate crime. Existing legislation is enough. Who decides what is hateful speech? Whoever is powerful at the time.
Two words: Think On.

RatRolyPoly · 10/12/2018 14:23

I don't know abacucat, but I think that's the hope.

Like this home office campaign to educate people/teenagers about what constitutes sexual assault and rape.

There's no such thing as hate crime.

Um, yes there is. It's a crime that is motivated by hatred of a particular characteristic, such as race or sexuality. HTH.

NotScrewingUpNow · 10/12/2018 14:30

I read a few studies that when petty crime was punished, overall crime reduced.

MardyArabella · 10/12/2018 14:36

I agree, it might make some people take a step back and realise what they see about to see or do is something which could land them in trouble. I don’t think it’s aimed at encouraging people to report.

I’m also not sure how I feel about the notion of ‘don’t report a crime because police levels are short’. I want our police to be properly funded and not stretched. But it’s not the general public who should be receiving the short end of the stick here.

caliss · 22/04/2019 15:06

I totally agree that police are stretched, however, I do not think hate crimes should be trivialised. How can anyone say that these crimes are insignificant, unless you are classed as a minority group yourself. Are you disabled? are you gay? are you transexual? etc. Do you know the true effects that these micro aggressions have on peoples daily lives? I really hope, one day, we do not judge anymore. Think, this is long overdue and good that the government now recognises the hurt that hate crime can have on vulnerable members of our society

Sarahjconnor · 22/04/2019 15:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MenuPlant · 22/04/2019 15:13

I think lots of women and girls know only too well how that feels

We experience hostility aggression and worse due to our sex

Of course that isn't covered by hate crime legislation, which is a deliberate exclusion, for obvious reasons

TheFastandCurious · 22/04/2019 15:25

Spot on MenuPlant

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 22/04/2019 15:34

Yup menu thats what I said when I saw it.

DGRossetti · 22/04/2019 16:24

I think it's the other way around; it's misguided to cut police numbers when there are very real challenges facing our society.

That presupposes that the police are the answer to the problem, rather than investment in education, infrastructure, training, housing and healthcare ? I guess if a hammer is the only tool you are prepared to use ....

MenuPlant · 22/04/2019 18:35

DHRosetti, Met Boss last year essentially said she wasn't going to bother with "date rape" or historic sex abuse (she was a little less direct than that but not much!)

And also another police chief I think it was who said they shouldn't bother with people who view images of child sex abuse.

So your approach is in place in practice, really. For some crimes anyway (some sex offences).

MenuPlant · 22/04/2019 18:35

Oh didn't finish that >

He said not to bother as it was so prevalent.

LakieLady · 22/04/2019 18:44

The fact that policing is under-resourced is down to the government, it's nothing to do with the police themselves. Save your rage for them, OP.

I think making people aware that hate speech etc is a crime is a great idea, if it makes racists/homophobes/misogynists etc think twice before spreading their bigotry.

Who decides what is hateful speech? Whoever is powerful at the time.

If it goes to trial, the jury, ie ordinary people picked at random.

DGRossetti · 22/04/2019 19:01

MenuPlant

DHRosetti, Met Boss last year essentially said she wasn't going to bother with "date rape" or historic sex abuse (she was a little less direct than that but not much!) And also another police chief I think it was who said they shouldn't bother with people who view images of child sex abuse. So your approach is in place in practice, really. For some crimes anyway (some sex offences).

Er, my approach ? Are you sure you've replied to the right post ? On the basis that I said nothing about either of those vile crimes, I feel a tad misrepresented ...

HelenaDove · 22/04/2019 19:06

Having seen posters who say they are police officers posting on here with a less than nice attitude towards SH tenants id say there are problems within.

ScreamScreamIceCream · 22/04/2019 19:33

OP people in minority groups know it is a crime but expect the police to still do SFA if they report it due to their attitudes. Doesn't matter whether police numbers have been cut or not.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 22/04/2019 21:32

Depends which minority group though.

caliss · 23/04/2019 21:07

Beg to differ, I had an incident a few years ago which I reported to the police and they investigated it seriously and I felt I had a good outcome.

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