Comments on: Hello, is that the Stasi, I have some information…

By: Guilty Without Association « Solomon Hezekiah

Guilty Without Association « Solomon Hezekiah — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:04:00 +0000

[...] the badge. It was a member of the public who had a grudge against him. Something even scarier? As another police officer noted, how did the police get a search warrant for Janaway’s house because of something that did [...]

By: Just Interested

Just Interested — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:39:06 +0000

Plodnomore: If it’s not an indelicate question, which force was it that made it an offence to have racist, etc. thoughts? Are there any news items about it you can direct me to?

By: Plodnomore

Plodnomore — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:10:38 +0000

As mentioned above, the BNP, although a party which actively promotes obscene, obnoxious and racist policies, is still a legal political party and, in law, no Chief Constable has the authority to ban members of his Force from being a member or supporting that party. Are the same restrictions placed on officers being members of a Left Wing party such as the Communist party – which also actively promotes obscene, racist and obnoxious policies – or the Labour or Conservative parties, or even the Monster Raving Loony Party which actively promotes rather strange policies. The law states that a Constable may not take an ACTIVE part in politics. The question arises whether wearing a badge, if there is any proof that the badge was worn, constitutes taking an ACTIVE part. Also, where were the Federation in this? Have they challenged any part of this Force’s appaerently hooky methods of investigation? If not, why not? I would think that a very good lawyer would result in this young man being re-instated, possibly with a wedge of cash in compensation (which could then donate to a fund for the vicitms of the holocaust). I have, in my home, flags of the old DDR and Soviet Union which I obtained as souvenirs of my time in the Army in BAOR. The possession of these did not make me a card carrying member of the Communist party, at least, not where I was serving. Not so long ago, a county foce not so far from the Metropolis made it a disciplinary offence to have racist, homophobic or sexist THOUGHTS (and introduced a dedicated telephone line where ‘offenders’ could be reported whilst the accusers could retain their anonymity). Any student of the history of the Communist party in Russia will know that this form of thought crime was only the precursor to the introduction of a totalitarian state ‘for the good of the country’. Dasvadanya.
Plodnomore

By: ted

ted — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 14:24:12 +0000

Perhaps GMP could assist us all by giving a list of which other legal political parties you can be sacked for supporting.

I don’t share the beliefs of the BNP and would question the judgement of anyone who did but sacking anybody for wearing the badge of a legal organisation whilst off duty is a step on the road to a big brother society.

By: Tony F

Tony F — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:58:01 +0000

As the BNP is still, unfortunately, a legal political party, supporting it is still legal. Perhaps a policeman showing support for the BNP is a bit thoughtless, but as he was in civvies and not on duty, what offence has he committed? If he was wearing an Al-Qaeda badge and if he was a muslim, would be treated in the same way? I think not.

By: Civ_In_The_City

Civ_In_The_City — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:24:52 +0000

Might I hazard a guess that Mr Janaway is white?

The kind of diversity we don`t celebrate in this country is diversity of political opinion, or thought. Equality for all, except those whose political views we don`t agree with. That is the essence of what is wrong with political correctness. It has the opposite effect to it`s own declared intentions.

If Janaway was spotted on a BNP march through his town centre chanting some sort of abuse then he should be up for serious disciplinary action and probably dismissal. Of course he should.

But having said all of that, from the sounds of it there is no evidence of him having any involvement with the BNP other than displaying a badge on at least one occasion and a couple of panphlets in his own home. No marching, no chanting, no firebombs, no recruiting of fellow officers, no fights in the canteen.

But when there is the possibility of breaching ‘politically correct’ views you don`t need any evidence of course. The GMP don`t need evidence he is a member of the BNP, they don`t need any evidence that he holds racist, homophobic or sexist views. They don`t need evidence that these views have affected his ability to do his job impartially.

They only need evidence that he is white, and that there is a remote possibility that he may once have held a view that could potentially be an embarrassment to the GMP.

A police service that decides guilt based on something other than evidence? Should make clearing up murder cases a lot easier doing it that way. Just pick up the next person walking past the station whose eyes are a bit too close together. Easy.

I will dare to say that there are staff and officers working in the GMP right now who are involved in far more distasteful things than Janaway, as there are throughout the country.

By: John Simons

John Simons — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:55:56 +0000

The origonal falsity that ‘A state employee could not support a particular legal party’ was so wrong it is scary that was given the time of day!

THIS CASE MUST BE USED TO CHALLENGE THIS UNJUST MADNESS

A judgement here would also assist others, for example the Teacher who was also sacked for BNP support despite a good career record

By: Sarah Davies

Sarah Davies — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 10:51:22 +0000

Certainly if this were any other political party it would be a human rights issue. This man has been punished for supporting a legal political party and that is outrageous, it is effectively state interference in a citizens political beliefs.

If the BMP were illegal then there might be an excuse but it is not.

This is thought control and what’s next? will someone get sacked for belonging to a church those in power disapprove of?

By: Twining

Twining — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 10:32:53 +0000

I’m with the last comment above.

By: Rob Brown

Rob Brown — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 08:21:42 +0000

Wouldn’t it show that common sense can prevail if PC Tariq Mahmood was to go public with his support for PC Janaway.
That would show that the normal coppers have more sense and loyalty to each other and are far more intouch with public feeling than their political puppet superiors are.
Go on Mr Mahmood you know its the right thing to do and you could get headlines for the right reasons, I for one would take my hat off to you.