OT Stupid and offensive, but worth a jail term?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/11/manchester-man-jailed-tshirt-police

A man who wore a homemade T-shirt containing an offensive anti-police sentiment in the immediate aftermath of the deaths of PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes has been jailed for a total of eight months.

Barry Thew, 39, of Radcliffe, Manchester, was sentenced at Minshull Street crown court in Manchester to four months in prison, after admitting a section 4a public order offence – displaying writing or other visible representation with intention of causing harassment, alarm or distress. Thew also admitted breaching a suspended sentence imposed for a previous offence of cannabis production for which he was ordered to serve another four months concurrently.

The court heard that at 2.15pm on 18 September, less than three-and-a-half hours after the officers were killed, he was seen in Radcliffe town centre wearing a white T-shirt with the handwritten message on the front and back. He was arrested and taken into custody after complaints from outraged members of the public.

The T-shirt said on its front: "One Less PiG Perfect Justice." On the back: "KiLL A COP 4 Fun.co.uk HA, haaa?"

Inspector Bryn Williams, of the Radcliffe neighbourhood policing team, said: "While officers on the ground were just learning of and trying to come to terms with the devastating news that two colleagues had been murdered, Thew thought nothing of going out in public with a T-shirt daubed with appalling handwritten comments on."

He said thankfully the overwhelming response from the public – who have inundated the force with messages of support and condolence – prove that Thew is an exception, not the rule "and our communities were right behind us at our darkest hour".

Given the cost of sending people to prison - for tax payers and for the prisoners (try getting a job with a record) - and the overcrowding of our jails, surely we could come up with a more suitable punishment for people like this?

 

Who ever made the shirt is a total ****, but I don't think he should be jailed for wearing a shirt.

He should have the shirts taken away from him though, and given an order not to wear them in public.

 

He should count himself lucky. Disgusting behaviour and deserves no less.

Imagine how you'd feel if a member of your family or a friend had just been murdered, and someone was making a sick joke out of it like this. I'd want them locked up for life.

 

Bloody disgraceful.

That said - later on that article refers to the fact that this guy has mental health issues. Explains a lot as surely nobody in their right mind could do this sort of thing?

 

It's not exactly commendable behaviour - I wouldn't even consider wearing a top like that...

BUT you should be able to wear clothes with whatever slogan you want on it. Free speech. That is a higher principle to defend... because where does banning and tightening controls end? Thoughtcrime?

 

I think we're all agreed that it is disgraceful - but why send him to prison? Surely these kind of offences are crying out for community service. He's no threat to society, and if the estimated cost of one prisoner for one year is over 40 grand, perhaps it would be more economically sound too.

 

Anything?

 

It was disproportionate IMHO

 

What an arsehole!!! I think we should just save ssome of gods food and end his life.

You can'r go around with T-shirts on saying kill all the jews or kill all the vegetarians can you? no it's the same kind of abuse whoever it's aimed at, however would you get 8 months for abusing anyone other than police? no so that is also wrong in my opinion.

 

Within hours of the Jeremy Forrest story, there was ten billion filthy jokes about it on twitter, facebook, forums etc...

Within hours of celebrities dying/going something stupid, there are ten billion filthy jokes about it over the web...

So... is the difference in whether the punchline is amusing, or is it the target who is off-limits?

 

And obviously I don't condone his behaviour, just how they can't use Tash's measure, what I call "some common sense", is beyond me...

 

Yup. Obviously nothing that would break already existing rules, such as information currently being used in court, incitement to violence etc.

All has to be taken in context and case by case.

Just because something is vulgar and ill thought out doesn't mean it should be banned. It sets a dangerous precedent - as did banning slogans on shirts at the Olympics. What was that all about? We all know I think.

 

so the next time certain sections of our society show placards with baby killers,british scum ect when the coffins of british soldiers are brought back from afghanistan the police wont just stand there and do jack sh1t,fxckin hypocrit's

 

Ah fair enough. Thats not "anything" then is it.

 

Going to jail for that is an absolute piss take

 

He wouldn't have gone to jail if it weren't for the bit on the back, kill a cop for fun.co.uk. That could be taken as inciting murderous thoughts/behaviour, the offensive part on the front alone would not have got him jailed.

 

There is no cost they wouldn't pay to satisfy the police forces need to make an example of him and help ease their anger at his actions. Completely over the top and he should have just been giving some litter picking to do. As others have mentioned it is way over the top and is more to do with the police forces egos. The justice system should be utilized in a more responsible manner, not to satisfy the whim of an organization charged with enforcing it.

Saying that I am biased as I don't have a lot of time for our police force. Their arrogance is beyond the pale. Both through personal experience and through having family members in the force.