Surely when in a private conversation

[Billywindsorsgoingbald]

with your mates you can say whatever you want, no matter how offensive it may be if said in public?

'Racist and sexist' Hampshire police unit officers dismissed

Secret recordings revealed "enough profanity, casual sexism and racism to last a lifetime".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

They weren't with their mates, they were at work.

Surely you're not arguing that if police officers are found to be racist that they should be allowed to stay in role ?

 

[DCI_Gene_Hunt]

They are not sacked because the actual conversations but the mindset that they have and how that influences how they do their job and the culture created amongst their peers.

Do you think its acceptable for a Policeman to be sexist, racist and homophobic? Or anyone for that matter?

 

[Billywindsorsgoingbald]

You can't have mates at work?

I just think the secret recording was a bit underhand that's all, I think there would be a serious amount of 'blokes' in trouble if they were secretly recorded chatting bewteen themselves

 

[DCI_Gene_Hunt]

You can't have mates at work?

I just think the secret recording was a bit underhand that's all, I think there would be a serious amount of 'blokes' in trouble if they were secretly recorded chatting bewteen themselves

Only the racist, sexist homophobic ones.

 

[r00fie1]

In public office you have a legal obligation to abide by the law and you have a duty of care.
Your attitude effects how you behave.
Try asking Donald Trump.
Its not banter.
If coppers need to be any of those things - they are in the wrong job.
If you want to be a racist, homophobic, mysoginist with yer big mates down the pub thats up to you.
But be prepared for the consequences.

 

[TheYorkshireTerrier]

You can't have mates at work?

I just think the secret recording was a bit underhand that's all, I think there would be a serious amount of 'blokes' in trouble if they were secretly recorded chatting bewteen themselves

Maybe there was cause for concern, and they had suspicions the bloke was a dodgy character? Turns out he was.

 

[LaPennaBianca]

You can't have mates at work?

I just think the secret recording was a bit underhand that's all, I think there would be a serious amount of 'blokes' in trouble if they were secretly recorded chatting bewteen themselves

I mean, it's the age old legal question - which is the superior law -that of the land or the bro code?

 

[pierrequiroule]

The Guardian understands a complaint from a fellow officer triggered the investigation, and from 9 March and 2 April 2018, a covert listening device was placed in the office where the unit worked.

 

[Muttley]

The Guardian understands a complaint from a fellow officer triggered the investigation, and from 9 March and 2 April 2018, a covert listening device was placed in the office where the unit worked.

If you spout this stuff you need to be aware that someone will eventually overhear it. I always refer to the Amnesty International definition of "Free Speech"

Freedom of speech is the right to say whatever you like about whatever you like, whenever you like, right? Wrong.

They go on to say

When freedom of speech can be restricted
You might not expect us to say this, but in certain circumstances free speech and freedom of expression can be restricted.

Governments have an obligation to prohibit hate speech and incitement. And restrictions can also be justified if they protect specific public interest or the rights and reputations of others.

Any restrictions on freedom of speech and freedom of expression must be set out in laws that must in turn be clear and concise so everyone can understand them.

People imposing the restrictions (whether they are governments, employers or anyone else) must be able to demonstrate the need for them, and they must be proportionate.

I could reasonably expect to lose my job if I used the language these men did, and I'm not a public servant as they are.

Amnesty

 

[Laughing]

You can't have mates at work?

I just think the secret recording was a bit underhand that's all, I think there would be a serious amount of 'blokes' in trouble if they were secretly recorded chatting bewteen themselves

Underhand, and if your mates use hate speech in front of you, you need to get new mates I am afraid.

 

[Borobuddah]

Rightly sacked

 

[ChrisTheRed]

If they put hidden recording devices in every office in every force or indeed every workplace I'm quite confident they would find evidence of criminal activity.

There would be very few officers left I'm sure. There are so many things that could be construed as offensive to someone.

 

[FartingGnome]

If they put hidden recording devices in every office in every force or indeed every workplace I'm quite confident they would find evidence of criminal activity.

There would be very few officers left I'm sure. There are so many things that could be construed as offensive to someone.

So you're on their side?

 

[Muttley]

If they put hidden recording devices in every office in every force or indeed every workplace I'm quite confident they would find evidence of criminal activity.

There would be very few officers left I'm sure. There are so many things that could be construed as offensive to someone.

And?

We let it go?

 

[Billywindsorsgoingbald]

Underhand, and if your mates use hate speech in front of you, you need to get new mates I am afraid.

I didn't say they do but believe it or not we might comment on the positives or negatives of a ladies figure for example

 

[Muttley]

I didn't say they do but believe it or not we might comment on the positives or negatives of a ladies figure for example

That's not "hate speech" but in the wrong circumstances could land you in trouble, a warning probably. When I first started work in the 80s this sort of "joking" was absolutely endemic and yes, I guess I said things that would land me in hot water if I repeated them now, but I wouldn't. Times have changed, they always do.

 

[atypical_boro]

You can't have mates at work?

I just think the secret recording was a bit underhand that's all, I think there would be a serious amount of 'blokes' in trouble if they were secretly recorded chatting bewteen themselves

In the pub, perhaps, but that's not what's happened. They were at work. It doesn't matter whether they are mates in or out of work, if they were actually at work.

There might be lots of blokes in trouble for certain language, if everything was recorded, but that doesn't mean we should turn a blind eye. But I'm also not saying we should record everything. People need to accept that times are changing, and that if they say certain things, people might challenge them on it.

 

[ChrisTheRed]

So you're on their side?

And?

We let it go?

Settle down boys I'm merely stating a fact.

I bet you've both done and said things that would be deemed inappropriate in your lifetime

 

[Muttley]

I bet you've both done and said things that would be deemed inappropriate in your lifetime

When I first started work in the 80s this sort of "joking" was absolutely endemic and yes, I guess I said things that would land me in hot water if I repeated them now, but I wouldn't. Times have changed, they always do.

You think?