UK police force urges citizens to report ‘misnaming’ as hate crime

Leicestershire Police last week urged citizens to report others for misnaming people who claim to have changed their gender by referring to them by their “previous” name. 

In a now-deleted tweet, the police included a photo of a 57-year-old person named “Jane” from Hinckley, who appears to be a man.  

“I get called by my previous name on purpose,” reads the quote, “but that’s not who I am. It can be really hurtful, especially when it’s just seen as a joke.” 

“You can report #HateCrime via Stamp It Out,” the police wrote in a caption above the image. 

After some social media backlash, Leicestershire Police apologized . . . for using a stock image. 

"I am sorry that our posts may have caused some upset,” Temporary Chief Constable Rob Nixon began his apology in a statement. “I know that was not the intention of our communications team who I know are committed to helping the force to prevent and detect crime and to raise awareness.” 

Nixon then revealed why he thought the post “caused some upset.” 

"To clarify in relation to the posts, the images used were stock images obtained by the team,” Nixon continued. “The source of those images had been considered to be reliable and the words on the posts were provided by an experienced police staff member who has significant knowledge of the different types of hate crime people can be and have been subjected to.” 

The police chief promised to change his ways moving forward and explained that he had the post removed. 

"Having examined the posts I believe we as a force should have made clear that the images were stock images and that the names given were fictitious for illustration purposes. For completeness, I am also having a scenario presented checked against current national hate crime recording policy. 

"As a result, we have now removed the posts and will be reviewing how we use stock images and raise awareness of hate crime going forward.” 

The tweet is only the latest example of UK law enforcement’s offensive against thought criminals and those who communicate unapproved speech. 

America’s Frontline News reported in August about another citizen charged for wrongthink, also for offending people who claim to believe they are the opposite gender. This time, however, it was a decorated British war veteran who was arrested for “malicious communications” after police received a complaint about one of his social media posts. The offending post showed a swastika made of rainbow flags, a commentary on the state-sponsored intimidation of citizens who do not embrace same-sex attraction and gender disorientation. 

One of the officers who showed up at the veteran’s house and placed him in handcuffs explained the man was being arrested “because someone has been caused, obviously, anxiety, based on your social media post. That is why you’ve been arrested.”