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Police want to hear of male groups
CUMBRIA Police have confirmed they are urging the public to report groups of young males so they can be checked out as possible Muslim terrorists.
The advice comes in the same week as Mohammed Hamid - who dubbed himself Osama Bin London - was jailed indefinitely for operating Al-Qaida-style training camps in the Langdales during 2004.
At a meeting of Kirkby Lonsdale Town Council, Kendal-based sergeant Jonathan Sizer told members any sightings of young Asian men should be reported to the police. But DCI Lee Johnson, of Cumbria's criminal intelligence department, later stressed that it was not only men of Asian appearance that should be reported.
He urged people who saw any large group of males to report them as extremists did not have to be of a certain appearance. However, he confirmed that large groups of women were not under suspicion.
For story in full, see the March 14 Westmorland Gazette.
9:31am Friday 14th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Ann, kendal on 10:47am Fri 14 Mar 08
what a ridiculous request to make "sightings of young asian men should be reported to the police", i know South Lakes isn't very culturally diverse but come one!
for a senior officer to ask local people to be on the look out for groups of men and report them for no reason takes prejudice to a new level
what a ridiculous request to make "sightings of young asian men should be reported to the police", i know South Lakes isn't very culturally diverse but come one!
for a senior officer to ask local people to be on the look out for groups of men and report them for no reason takes prejudice to a new level
Posted by: Steve Holcroft, Bowness on 5:43pm Fri 14 Mar 08
Dear Newsquest,
I feel the need to warn you of the counterfeit copies of the Westmorland Gazette circulating in the South Lakes last week.
I could tell immediately my copy was a fake when I read the lead article on the front page. It was the most incredible tale of racism, Islamophobia and scaremongering I've ever seen in black and white (oops, pardon the pun), and was alledged to have originated from two police officers. How ridiculous! As if anyone would believe that!
The first was alledged to have suggested we should all report groups of brown people in case they might be carrying bombs in their bags. But the second then made it OK by saying that not all Muslims are brown (presumably even the white ones are terrorists). And then the officer gave specific advice to terrorists about how to avoid detection - send women in as large a quantity as you like, they'll slip through the radar faster than a stealth bomber.
Normally, spoofs are meant to be funny, but I found this one to be in quite bad taste. I mean, imagine the damage it could do to the reputation of our police force, the Cumbrian people, and the Lake District tourism industry if people thought it was true! It would put back the efforts to attract ethnic minority groups to the area by decades wouldn't it? Good job it was a joke.
It was a joke...wasn't it?
Dear Newsquest,
I feel the need to warn you of the counterfeit copies of the Westmorland Gazette circulating in the South Lakes last week.
I could tell immediately my copy was a fake when I read the lead article on the front page. It was the most incredible tale of racism, Islamophobia and scaremongering I've ever seen in black and white (oops, pardon the pun), and was alledged to have originated from two police officers. How ridiculous! As if anyone would believe that!
The first was alledged to have suggested we should all report groups of brown people in case they might be carrying bombs in their bags. But the second then made it OK by saying that not all Muslims are brown (presumably even the white ones are terrorists). And then the officer gave specific advice to terrorists about how to avoid detection - send women in as large a quantity as you like, they'll slip through the radar faster than a stealth bomber.
Normally, spoofs are meant to be funny, but I found this one to be in quite bad taste. I mean, imagine the damage it could do to the reputation of our police force, the Cumbrian people, and the Lake District tourism industry if people thought it was true! It would put back the efforts to attract ethnic minority groups to the area by decades wouldn't it? Good job it was a joke.
It was a joke...wasn't it?
Posted by: Jack, grange (grunge) over sands on 7:08pm Sat 15 Mar 08
The police were outraged when the Macphereson report commented that institutioinal racism was widespread in the policeforce, yet they make recommendations like these to the media! And the Gazette print it, shocking, absolutely shocking!
The police were outraged when the Macphereson report commented that institutioinal racism was widespread in the policeforce, yet they make recommendations like these to the media! And the Gazette print it, shocking, absolutely shocking!
Posted by: Graham Wynne, Lancaster on 10:22pm Sun 16 Mar 08
April 1st is not for a couple of weeks.
April 1st is not for a couple of weeks.
Posted by: Chris, Manchester on 6:31pm Wed 19 Mar 08
I think I saw a group of young Asian men in a takeaway once.
I think I saw a group of young Asian men in a takeaway once.
Posted by: Chris, Manchester on 6:33pm Wed 19 Mar 08
They had assembled for the purpose of making a curry. Should they be reported? Your paper is funny. You total racists.
They had assembled for the purpose of making a curry. Should they be reported? Your paper is funny. You total racists.
Posted by: The reporter, Kendal on 9:59am Thu 20 Mar 08
Thank you all for your comments on this story. I am the reporter who wrote the article, which was prompted by a meeting I had attended.
That meeting resulted in quite a few stories - from toilet upkeep, to legal battles over rights of way, to this particular one.
I found the sergeant's comments interesting.
The story does not represent the views of The Westmorland Gazette or myself - we are here to report the facts as they happen.
It is interesting that the subject has sparked much debate.
Thank you all for your comments on this story. I am the reporter who wrote the article, which was prompted by a meeting I had attended.
That meeting resulted in quite a few stories - from toilet upkeep, to legal battles over rights of way, to this particular one.
I found the sergeant's comments interesting.
The story does not represent the views of The Westmorland Gazette or myself - we are here to report the facts as they happen.
It is interesting that the subject has sparked much debate.
Posted by: Peter, Kendal on 6:52pm Sat 22 Mar 08
Anyone else tempted to ring the police and report a large group of potential racists on Busher Walk. Easily identifiable by their (ironic) black uniforms and their cars with blue flashing lights.
Anyone else tempted to ring the police and report a large group of potential racists on Busher Walk. Easily identifiable by their (ironic) black uniforms and their cars with blue flashing lights.
Posted by: MCPHERSON on 7:22pm Sun 23 Mar 08
Its the neutral way in which the storey was reported which says so much!
where was the outrage from the reporter or the council?
I started a discusion on the Gazettes forum and thank god it seems there is universal disgust.
I awaite the apology but there does`nt seem to be anything yet from the police.
The Gazette really should make some response,a neutral report on a issue like this could be interpreted as accepting this type of comment and labeling our community racist to the wider country.
The BNP in cockermouth are already quoting the report,there needs to be some urgency now!
Its the neutral way in which the storey was reported which says so much!
where was the outrage from the reporter or the council?
I started a discusion on the Gazettes forum and thank god it seems there is universal disgust.
I awaite the apology but there does`nt seem to be anything yet from the police.
The Gazette really should make some response,a neutral report on a issue like this could be interpreted as accepting this type of comment and labeling our community racist to the wider country.
The BNP in cockermouth are already quoting the report,there needs to be some urgency now!
Posted by: The reporter, Kendal on 4:46pm Tue 25 Mar 08
The purpose of a newspaper is to report facts - not to pass comment. Journalism should not advocate a position or provide an opinion because it is up to the reader to make their own mind up.
Whether I, as the reporter, was outraged or otherwise is irrelevant to the article.
The purpose of a newspaper is to report facts - not to pass comment. Journalism should not advocate a position or provide an opinion because it is up to the reader to make their own mind up.
Whether I, as the reporter, was outraged or otherwise is irrelevant to the article.
Posted by: mcpherson, kendal on 10:23pm Tue 25 Mar 08
It`s the only paper i know that has`nt got a view!
Unless you quote verbatem you edit and add your view,no view is acceptance and we can`t accept racism.
It`s the only paper i know that has`nt got a view!
Unless you quote verbatem you edit and add your view,no view is acceptance and we can`t accept racism.
Posted by: reporter on 7:11pm Mon 31 Mar 08
All quotes were verbatim. That is the whole point of using quotes - recording what was said accurately. A newspaper report should not present a view unless it is a comment piece. It would be unfair for a reporter to write an article based on their opinion - that is not news.
All quotes were verbatim. That is the whole point of using quotes - recording what was said accurately. A newspaper report should not present a view unless it is a comment piece. It would be unfair for a reporter to write an article based on their opinion - that is not news.
Posted by: mcpherson, kendal on 8:45pm Tue 1 Apr 08
What I meant was that unless an article consists wholey of verbatum quotes it will have narrative and imput which is subjective.Often the same stories are reported in very different ways depending on the Paper.When you reported the meeting you may have asked questions,you later asked a senior officer and again had the chance to develope the wider obvious connertations and implications of the sergeant`s remarks.You chose not to,You chose not to ask members of the council either and by these choices you reported a serious incident which had the potential to brand the constabulary,the town council and,( by not including a balance or foil to such outrageous racism,)the local paper,as insensitive at best and at worst a bunch of bigots who are trying to protect the last white frontier. The response and letters you received support my view and I think you just can`t hide behind your defense of claiming a objective report.There are common standards that your readers expect and you messed up.You are trying to come up with this arguement but I really suspect you would tackle this sort thing differently next time.
Are you telling your readers that the Westmorland Gazette does`nt feel it needed a comment printed as a foil to these remarks.
I`m very disapointed you don`t seem to care and no follow-up articles have been printed.I have complained to my MP as well as the Police as I fear we can`t just sweep this under the carpet.
What I meant was that unless an article consists wholey of verbatum quotes it will have narrative and imput which is subjective.Often the same stories are reported in very different ways depending on the Paper.When you reported the meeting you may have asked questions,you later asked a senior officer and again had the chance to develope the wider obvious connertations and implications of the sergeant`s remarks.You chose not to,You chose not to ask members of the council either and by these choices you reported a serious incident which had the potential to brand the constabulary,the town council and,( by not including a balance or foil to such outrageous racism,)the local paper,as insensitive at best and at worst a bunch of bigots who are trying to protect the last white frontier. The response and letters you received support my view and I think you just can`t hide behind your defense of claiming a objective report.There are common standards that your readers expect and you messed up.You are trying to come up with this arguement but I really suspect you would tackle this sort thing differently next time.
Are you telling your readers that the Westmorland Gazette does`nt feel it needed a comment printed as a foil to these remarks.
I`m very disapointed you don`t seem to care and no follow-up articles have been printed.I have complained to my MP as well as the Police as I fear we can`t just sweep this under the carpet.
Posted by: John on 8:54pm Tue 1 Apr 08
Blo*dy hell, Mcpherson's got lots of time on his hands hasn't he? jesus, give it a rest.
Blo*dy hell, Mcpherson's got lots of time on his hands hasn't he? jesus, give it a rest.
Posted by: mcpherson, kendal on 6:20pm Thu 3 Apr 08
I HAPPEN TO THINK THIS IS SERIOUS!
I HAPPEN TO THINK THIS IS SERIOUS!
Posted by: John on 8:55am Sun 6 Apr 08
I'm not saying it isn't serious. But as I have some (limited) knowledge of how the media works I have to agree with the reporter that their role is to be unbiased. It is not for The Westmorland Gazette to start saying this is this or this is that. Readers are intelligent enough to make their own minds up.
I'm not saying it isn't serious. But as I have some (limited) knowledge of how the media works I have to agree with the reporter that their role is to be unbiased. It is not for The Westmorland Gazette to start saying this is this or this is that. Readers are intelligent enough to make their own minds up.
Posted by: Sam Mason, Kendal on 3:40pm Fri 18 Apr 08
I am fascinated to know whether the Gazette and those others who are hiding behind the claim of objective reporting, would simply report verbatim what was said at a BNP rally without comment or question.
This was an outrageous comment by a serving police officer, bordering on incitement to racial hatred, and it was just reported as a public information announcement.
If a hotel in Windermere put a sign in its window saying "no coloureds" (as they used to in the 1950's) would the Gazette just report that such and such a hotel state they will not allow coloured people onto the premises from now on and leave it at that? Saying they were just objectively reporting what was said?
The Gazette team, from Editor down, have expressed strong views and opinions on many news stories much more trivial than this one without feeling the need to stay silent claiming objectivity - why the need on this story?
Unless of course the reporter and editorial team agree with the views of the Police Sergeant - now that would be worrying wouldn't it?
The problem here is that the "objective" reporting was in fact one sided reporting as no comment was printed from anyone else in the story expressing a different point of view to the police.
Did you contact the Commission for Racial Equality (the Equality and Human Rights Commision as is now)? Did you try to contact these "Asian communities" that the Police claimed agreed with them?
Did you try to find out if it was even legal to make such a request - now there would be a story!
It seems not. That implies agreement on the part of the Gazette with the Police and not objective reporting at all.
I am fascinated to know whether the Gazette and those others who are hiding behind the claim of objective reporting, would simply report verbatim what was said at a BNP rally without comment or question.
This was an outrageous comment by a serving police officer, bordering on incitement to racial hatred, and it was just reported as a public information announcement.
If a hotel in Windermere put a sign in its window saying "no coloureds" (as they used to in the 1950's) would the Gazette just report that such and such a hotel state they will not allow coloured people onto the premises from now on and leave it at that? Saying they were just objectively reporting what was said?
The Gazette team, from Editor down, have expressed strong views and opinions on many news stories much more trivial than this one without feeling the need to stay silent claiming objectivity - why the need on this story?
Unless of course the reporter and editorial team agree with the views of the Police Sergeant - now that would be worrying wouldn't it?
The problem here is that the "objective" reporting was in fact one sided reporting as no comment was printed from anyone else in the story expressing a different point of view to the police.
Did you contact the Commission for Racial Equality (the Equality and Human Rights Commision as is now)? Did you try to contact these "Asian communities" that the Police claimed agreed with them?
Did you try to find out if it was even legal to make such a request - now there would be a story!
It seems not. That implies agreement on the part of the Gazette with the Police and not objective reporting at all.
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