Jailed for offensive tee shirt

[Slacker]

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/11/barry-thew-eight-months-prison-offensive-t-shirt-fiona-bone-nicola-hughes_n_1957427.html

It's in bad taste to wear this shirt at a time when 2 police women had just been murdered but isn't this acting in a similar manner to the Middle East or former Eastern Bloc countries that the West has always condemned for clamping down on freedom of speech? Wouldn't a fine have been sufficient?

[therealjr]

Absolutely 110% NOT.
Freedom of speech gives you the ability to criticise the government or say that the Police are acting in a heavy handed way (as many communities often do after riots) or protest about things like Animal rights or Nuclear Arms.
It doesn't give you the right to make offensive obscene comments about the deaths of two hard working community police officers.

[Fly]

I like humorous t-shirts, even slightly crude ones, but that's just a bit over the line even for me.
The article says it was over another incident with the police, but really bad timing to wear that one.

[Pete]

Whatever the reason, the man's a prat and is asking for trouble with that t shirt.

[Slacker]

Agree it's pretty sick though he says it's about a different incident. But is jail going too far? Sounds like he was already on a suspended sentence so maybe there's more to it.

[Fly]

He was sentenced to four months in jail and received an additional four months after he admitted breaching the terms of a previous suspended jail term

Just another loud mouth waste of space IMHO

There's means and ways to protest. That isn't one !

[Slacker]

How long before police come knocking for things people write on Facebook or twitter................or Chesterfield Online?

[Pete]

There is currently major debate re what people say on Twitter or Facebook and I expect there to be some consensus in the near future.

>> ............. or Chesterfield Online? Well, thats me buggered then!  )

[Fly]

Pigs, is another slang name for the police.
Usually by people who have a problem with authority !
The pigs are the people who uphold this countries laws.
I don't like some of the laws the pigs uphold, but it's not the pigs fault.
They don't make the laws, the pigs just just do their job.

Is this post offensive ?
I don't think so.

How long before police come knocking for things people write on Facebook or twitter................or Chesterfield Online?

Let's see.
Respect to the police and the armed forces 

[Pete]

I'm not so sure calling the police p*gs is a good idea - I think they are, by and large, a good bunch of people.

[Slacker]

Sticks & stones........

Quite often people escape prison for violent assaults

[Pete]

>>  Quite often people escape prison for violent assaults

Now that is wrong. Criminals that assault folks either in their homes or on the streets should go down.

Surely the fundamentals of policing should be security for law abiding citizens.

[Fly]

Quite often people escape prison for violent assaults

That's down to the law. If the law is an ass then it needs changing.

I'm not so sure calling the police p*gs is a good idea - I think they are, by and large, a good bunch of people.

Respect to them for doing the job they do.

I don't for one minute think I'm gonna get arrested for my post ;-)

[therealjr]

How long before police come knocking for things people write on Facebook or twitter................or Chesterfield Online?

if it's offensive they already do!!!
There's a difference between freedom of speech and being offensive it's just that you left wing liberal types want to muddy the waters to score political points.

[Slacker]

Nothing party political about my comments the judiciary is independent of government, or it should be or am I being naive?