Arrests based on facebook posts in Britain? (1 Viewer)

[Fusilier]

Saw this story this weekend. I realize that free speech expectations are different between the US and Britain, but I was still surprised by the fact that someone has actually been arrested over facebook posts. Apparently the posts were in response to the killing of the British soldier by extremists last week. Now, unless the facebook poster is advocating specific violence, I do not understand how he could be arrested for his postings. While I am not trying to excuse racist or bigoted posts, should such an act be considered an arrestable offense? Where does that potential rabbit-hole lead?!?

Here is the link, though the wording of the story has changed slightly since it was first posted on Friday:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/two-arrested-over-twitter-comments-075434605.html?.tsrc=lgwn#Qb946ou

Noah

 

[theBaron]

It doesn't matter to us, as such, unless the Supremes decide to look again at foreign law when deciding our own Constitutional cases.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Martin Tabony]

Well if a pregnant woman can be arrested for carrying a union flag on an English street!!! Is this the end of free speach?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4867751007400&set=vb.195946683785438&type=2&theater

 

[Mitch]

have to say she should have been arrested. No problem carrying the flag but, its the words on it that caused the issue and were bound to cause not offence as such but, at least so under the public order legislation but, it was bound to cause trouble and, I would think she knew it.

This type of stuff is happening all over the country at the moment and, it is going to escalate into real problems. I was reading some of the far right responses and they are saying an eye for an eye which, kind of means take a muslim life for a brit life in response to the death of The soldier.

Can't blame the police for taking the action they are as they are caught between a rock and a hard place in the tit for tat responses
Mitch

 

[jazzeum]

I don't know if a person would be arrested in this country but the advice the constable gave should be applicable everywhere: people should stop and think before posting things on social media.

People stupidly believe they can post anything they want and are surprised when there are consequences such as not being hired, being fired or being refused admittance to a university.

People don't think!

 

[Martin Tabony]

have to say she should have been arrested. No problem carrying the flag but, its the words on it that caused the issue and were bound to cause not offence as such but, at least so under the public order legislation but, it was bound to cause trouble and, I would think she knew it.

This type of stuff is happening all over the country at the moment and, it is going to escalate into real problems. I was reading some of the far right responses and they are saying an eye for an eye which, kind of means take a muslim life for a brit life in response to the death of The soldier.

Can't blame the police for taking the action they are as they are caught between a rock and a hard place in the tit for tat responses
Mitch

I agree that it could have caused offence but the question then has to be asked why muslim demonstrations aren't stopped at military parades when they set out to cause offence?

Martin

 

[Mitch]

Martin...

I fully agree that they all should be arrested as it is exactly the same offence and, that is why it allows far right groups and as we are seeing relatively normal people to begin to speak out and react in ways they probably would not normally.

I watched a returning regiment of soldiers parade through York City centre a while back the majority of shoppers were applauding etc as the troops and band marched through town. There was three non white youths possibly of Muslim religion who shouted out Murderers and a few other comments whilst a police officer few feet stood a few feet away. I asked him why he did not intervene and was told senior officers had said they were not to make arrests or intervene in any protest against the troops marching.

Now its is that type of behaviour that has to be addressed as its a fear of being cast as racist that it paralysing agencies such as the police from doing their job of upholding the law without fear or prejudice. I seem to recall that being part of the oath officers swear.

All of these actions just make it look more slanted to the ethnic groups rightly or wrongly
Mitch

I agree that could have caused offence but the question then has to be asked why muslim demonstrations aren't stopped at military parades when they set out to cause offence?

Martin

 

[Scott]

I agree that it could have caused offence but the question then has to be asked why muslim demonstrations aren't stopped at military parades when they set out to cause offence?

Martin

Do that have permits to do so?? Then it's just Free Speech. The Westborro Baptist Church continues anti-gay protests at soldier's funerals as long as they still within the law. Counter WBC protesters just "hide" them with vehicles or drown them out with engines.

In the case of the WBC, a number of them are lawyers and are just waiting to sue people for interfering with their 1st Amendment rights, so be careful.

 

[Scott]

Is it lawful to reduce the national flag to a protest placard? I believe the US has a law against defacing the Stars and Stripes. (Whether that law is enforced is another matter.)

Rarely as evidenced by flag clothing and disposable plates and napkins and as an Indian women told me, "you even put your flag on .....your UNDERWEAR! "

 

[Fusilier]

This type of stuff is happening all over the country at the moment and, it is going to escalate into real problems. I was reading some of the far right responses and they are saying an eye for an eye which, kind of means take a muslim life for a brit life in response to the death of The soldier.

Can't blame the police for taking the action they are as they are caught between a rock and a hard place in the tit for tat responses
Mitch

Mitch, I hear what you are saying. As a law enforcement officer myself, it is important to stay on top of such situations. Still, I think the police must be careful in determining which posts are sufficient for arrest and which are not. As you say, much of the current issue is tit-for-tat, which only escalates the vitriol.

I don't know if a person would be arrested in this country but the advice the constable gave should be applicable everywhere: people should stop and think before posting things on social media.

People stupidly believe they can post anything they want and are surprised when there are consequences such as not being hired, being fired or being refused admittance to a university.

People don't think!

Good point. Such posts speak to the underlying character of the poster. While such posts might keep someone from landing a job, I still do not know if they should reach the level of criminal offense.....

Martin...

I fully agree that they all should be arrested as it is exactly the same offence and, that is why it allows far right groups and as we are seeing relatively normal people to begin to speak out and react in ways they probably would not normally.

I watched a returning regiment of soldiers parade through York City centre a while back the majority of shoppers were applauding etc as the troops and band marched through town. There was three non white youths possibly of Muslim religion who shouted out Murderers and a few other comments whilst a police officer few feet stood a few feet away. I asked him why he did not intervene and was told senior officers had said they were not to make arrests or intervene in any protest against the troops marching.

Now its is that type of behaviour that has to be addressed as its a fear of being cast as racist that it paralysing agencies such as the police from doing their job of upholding the law without fear or prejudice. I seem to recall that being part of the oath officers swear.

All of these actions just make it look more slanted to the ethnic groups rightly or wrongly
Mitch

Mitch, I think we agree that such perceptions only fuel the problem. And in that regard, there is a terrible image problem for British police right now. I would imagine that these arrests based on facebook posts are on thought of as pandering to a specific community. In fact, the original version of this story stated that such arrests were made "at the behest of the Muslim community." Now I do not personally believe that, but I can see why someone with limited information might feel that way

Noah