Why do people vote without commenting? So creepy.

Pardon my ignorance of British law, but I still don't understand why is this a police matter

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Its a Police matter because racism is not lawful.

It became a police matter when a member of the public (a QPR supporter) made a complaint.

I think Terry would have to go out on a mass killing spree with a gatling gun before the FA would consider taking the captaincy off him.

the.curve.w12,

It became a police matter when a member of the public (a QPR supporter) made a complaint.

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Exactly. If you're burgled, you dont wait for the Police to find out - you report it because it breaks the country's laws.

The murder of Stephen Lawrence changed the debate about race in Britain.

Not all racist or religious events are criminal offences.

For instance, if an individual is caught chanting racist remarks at a football match, the CPS have video evidence to charge him/her so the case is taken to the Magistrates Court.

Is it not lawful? What about freedom of speech? I'm pretty sure you can say just about anything you want in most democratic countries and be fairly ridiculed for it, but it is your right to speech even if it is repugnant. Provding you are not inciting violence in any way.

Gav, I think you've answered my question

TGI

Your ignorance of law is only excused because your a Chelsea supporter and not too bright.

Even if he said what he is meant to have said I think it is highly unlikely he will be prosecuted. Probably just the usual, take away the England captaincy for a few months then give it back once some else does something stupid. Yawn.

curve - I bet you were the one who reported him weren't you?

! wish

TGI,

What about freedom of speech?

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What about it? Its a myth. You cant call a Police Officer a , you cant call a spade a spade, you cant use homophobic language - not that i would want to of course, but there is no such thing as freedom of speech. And JT is no different.

Terry won´t be found guilty for the simple reason that he didn´t do anything wrong.

Bank on it.

^ He won´t even be charged ^

This is what i honestly believe (from a Spurs fan):

JT is not a racist.

But he did use the racist word.

There.

won't didn't

If Terry had called Barton a "White C***" would that be racist?

Of course you can use homophobic language, people do all the time and they're not prosecuted. The key to this (as has already been pointed out) is that a complaint was made so the police need to follow-up, but I don't see where a crime has been commited, so I expect the whole thing to be tossed out. Freedom of speech depends on the context (e.g. if you make racist/homophobic comments at work then you can be fired, but I wouldn't expect you would be prosecuted unless they were in some way threatening or inciting violence or some other type of crime). The words on their own don't consitute a crime.

TGI,

The key to this (as has already been pointed out) is that a complaint was made so the police need to follow-up

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No, the reason they followed it up is because racism is not lawful.

If you called someone a doughnut & they reported it, they would not follow it up. Neither would calling someone a nerd or a swine. Racism, or prejudism, is against the law & punishable by law. Whether it be a fine or a slap on the wrist, it is a crime.

Its a bit silly, like the old law of eating mince pies on boxing day being a crime - but they are in the law book never-the-less.

I intend to report any mince pie eating that I witness on boxing day.

TGI,

I'm on the case this year too.



Just be careful if Gazza offers you a mince pie because the chances are, it wont be filled with mince.

JUST IN:
Terry prosecution dropped. Apparently Ferdinand is what Terry called him........

What next? JT eating mince pies on Boxing Day?