The Minefield That Human Rights Has Opened

Subrosa posts on the Hate Crime Guidance Manual issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) in particular to the practice of 'Dogging'.

From Subrosa's post, a quote from an unnamed Kent police officer:

"So now we are being told not just to turn a blind eye to public indecency, we are being told to arrest anyone who has anything bad to say against people taking part in outdoor sex. It's getting to the stage that people who break the law have more rights than the normal man or woman in the street and as for them suffering from post traumatic stress, what about the people who witness these exhibitions and are shocked by it? What about their rights?"

From the Foreward to the Hate Crime Guidance Manual by Ian Latimer, QPM, MA, Chief Constable, Northern Constabulary, Chair, ACPOS Equality and Diversity Business Area:

"As the professional voice of the Scottish Police Service, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) is responsible for setting the strategic vision of a high-quality police service for everyone in Scotland. This means being committed to providing a quality of service that is fair, accessible and meets the needs of everyone in Scotland, ensuring they live in safety and are treated with dignity and respect."

It has long been known that those breaking the law appear to have more rights than their victims - so nothing new there then. On the other hand - and far more importantly - it would appear that ACPOS are following their sister organisation in England & Wales in actually determining the law and how it should be interpreted, something that is surely the responsibility of Parliament and the Judiciary respectively.

Whilst Human Rights may have good intentions, like everything else that the illiberal left dream up, it has got totally out of hand resulting in totally illogical decisions and policies being made. It can also be argued that Hate Crime is open to the possibility of an individual's prosecution based purely on the fact that an utterance is 'hate' when it is no more than expressing an opinion. For example, I find the practice of homosexuality totally abhorrent - and do say so - however it does not mean that I 'hate' those that do indulge. I would contend that Hate Crime can result in an infringement on a person's right to think and express an opinion - dangerous ground on which to tread?

Just a few initial thoughts.........