Mermaids and West Yorkshire Police again

[Popchyk]

Natasha Handley, policy and engagement officer at Mermaids, reported both Heather Brunskell-Evans and Councillor Sarah Field for hate crime because they both spoke about women's rights in Leeds.

Handley also works for Trans Leeds.

From Heather:

twitter.com/brunskellevans/status/1158681234341617665

I'm pleased to inform you @WestYorksPolice have not taken further Natasha Handley's complaint that my views about the medical transitioning of children constitute a hate crime. I wonder whether the police would still like to correct my thinking? @BBCr4today @HarryTheOwl

and

twitter.com/brunskellevans/status/1158691956354158593

"I'm even more delighted to let people know that Natasha Handley's claim that Cllr Sarah Field spoke 'hate' in the following talk www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOxdD9LB4v0 … has also been dismissed by @WestYorksPolice & Leeds City Council"

As we know, Sarah Field has been battling cancer.

WYP have been sitting on this for months.

Glad both cases gave been dropped. to you both. It must be a huge relief for Sarah with everything else to deal with.

Isnt it about time WYP had a word with Mermaids for wasting police time?

I am thankful for them both but yes, wasting police time and actually, it’s harassment of women for their political opinions so I’m just wondering how long it’ll take the police up there to do their damn job

Im pleased the complaints have been dropped but won't they still be recorded as 'hate incidents' then used as proof that trans people are the most vulnerable minority?

Yes, they will still be recorded hate incidents.

This is good news. But the fact that merely voicing a rational opinion can leave you dangling nervously for weeks while you wait to see if you're going to be charged isn't good enough. What has been said to Natasha Handley? Has it been made clear that just because someone disagrees with her doesn't mean they're committing a hate crime?

Uniformed police need to be pulled out of Pride parades. Uniformed police should only be present in a professional safeguarding capacity. Police officers can attend Pride as private citizens but the police have got too close to politics and need to withdraw.

Could these women perhaps report the report as a hate incident as well?

After all they are being harassed after expressing feminist viewpoints. That seems hateful against women to me.

Hate crime legislation does not include sex, FWR.

The police and Crown Prosecution Service have agreed a common definition of hate incidents.

They say something is a hate incident if the victim or anyone else think it was motivated by hostility or prejudice based on one of the following things:

• disability
• race
• religion
• transgender identity
• sexual orientation

Hate crime legislation does not include sex

Misogyny does not exist, according to the law.

So WYP seem to be using a bit of common sense for a change.

Mermaids must be devastated.

So WYP seem to be using a bit of common sense for a change.

More likely WYP are aware of a certain court case involving another police force and free speech issues and are waiting to see which way the wind blows.

This is a farce. Natasha Handley is running training courses.
“Essentials” Transgender Awareness Workshop
5 MAY 2018

The “Essentials” workshop was put together by Natasha Handley, coordinator of TransLeeds, to help make Leeds a more inclusive city by giving everyone an opportunity to ask questions, and better understand transgender people and their experience in Leeds. It has developed from the “MP Transgender Awareness Workshop” which has been successfully delivered to most of the MPs around Leeds.
The “Essentials” training course covers the following :
Terminology

Understanding Transgender Identities and Transition

Dos and Don’ts

Understanding Why Trans People Need Your Support

The Law

Why Trans People Are Amazing

Trans Organisations and Further Learning

Q and A

It includes interactive workshops where participants can get involved. and a Q and A at the end where any questions you have can be asked in a safe, non-judgemental environment. A participation certificate is given to all attendees.
Who Is This Training For?
The “Essentials” workshop is valuable for anyone working in a customer facing role as you will learn how to interact politely with transgender people. Anyone working in HR or management will also benefit from understanding the laws that support transgender employees, and what to expect when an employee begins transition. You will also learn how you can make your workplace more inclusive.
It is also useful to both friends and family of transgender people. Has a friend or family member come out to you and you would like to understand more? This is for you.
Who Is Delivering The Training?
Natasha Handley is a queer trans woman and coordinator for local trans advocacy charity TransLeeds and an organiser of Trans Pride Leeds. She provides trans awareness training and consultation to the MPs around Leeds as well as organisations such as HM Prison Service, Public Health England, and local clinics.

The “Essentials” workshop is valuable for anyone working in a customer facing role as you will learn how to interact politely with transgender people.

Oh do fuck off. I've been working in customer facing roles since I was 14, some thirty plus years ago. Neither I nor any of my customer facing colleagues need 'training' in how to be polite to trans people. Just treat them like everyone else. They aren't special.

Just treat them like everyone else. They aren't special.

This

“Why trans people are amazing”
Can you imagine a racial diversity workshop containing a segment on “why black people are amazing”?

Neither I nor any of my customer facing colleagues need 'training' in how to be polite to trans people. Just treat them like everyone else. They aren't special.

It's embarrassingly obvious isn't it but then there's no money in that approach.

I just find the language really sinister. Why are we expected to hold Trans people as some magical amazing special entity to be handled with kid gloves, above everyone else? It’s weird and creepy.

West Yorkshire police are a disgrace.

Not just to women. They are rotten to the core. They love to use intimidation on men and women.

They need to be ashamed of themseleves.

It's embarrassingly obvious isn't it but then there's no money in that approach.

Indeed. Over the years I've managed to be polite to people whose political views I find abhorrent, people I know to have convictions for paedophilia, people who are incoherent due to mental health issues, people who have been screaming abuse in my face.

But somehow I need training in how to be polite only to one specific group of people? Seriously Natasha, shove it up your arse. Stop wasting public money.

Very pleased to hear this news. This is why the 'We are fair cop' judicial review is so very important. I am going to throw more money in a certain direction as this really needs to succeed. The way the police have been weaponised by this movement is truly shocking - no other political / interest group has managed to do this - it flies in the face of justice and democracy.

Seriously Natasha, shove it up your arse.

Arnold, I salute you

Natasha Handley has also provided "consultancy" courses to West Yorkshire Police.

nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/nominate/20945/

I thought the police were understaffed, when in truth all they are doing is wasting resources bothering innocent women.
Anyone living in West Yorkshire should be having a word with their PCC.

re: 'trans people are amazing' - a friend of mine spotted a piece of graffiti that said 'trans people are sacred.'

SACRED. You know. Like priests.

Sorry, that's the workshop mentioned upthread, for info.