On 20 March 2009, a Christian couple were arrested and accused of committing a ‘hate crime’ for allegedly criticising Islam in a discussion with a guest at their hotel.
Merseyside Police is continuing to mislead the public over hate crimes, despite making an apology over a woefully inaccurate campaign poster.
The force claimed on a public billboard and on social media that “Being offensive is an offence”, adding: “Merseyside Police stand with and support the LGBTQI+ community, we will not tolerate hate crime on any level.”
In 2009, the same police force arrested and charged a Christian couple when a Muslim complained she was offended by their criticism of Islam. The case was dismissed.
Misleading
The force apologised for this latest incident, and removed the post from social media. But on the same day the billboard was launched, Alan McKeon, Sergeant for Community Policing, and Rachel Roberts, the force’s Hate Crime Co-ordinator, made a number of other misleading statements.