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Met chief 's rethink on PC policing(Daily Mail Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)SIR Ian Blair yesterday moved to end costly police inquiries into supposedly politically incorrect views voiced on radio and TV. The Metropolitan Police Commissioner launched a review of how his force responds to viewer and listener complaints about commentators who allegedly make homophobic or racist statements. Current rules compel police to investigate complaints but officers are said to be exasperated because they have to treat all of them as potential 'hate' crimes. Inquiries can cost thousands of pounds before finding that broadcasters are only exercising their right to freedom of speech and have not infringed the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act or the Public Order Act. The review comes days after the Met began investigating Sir Iqbal Sacranie, head of the Muslim Council of Britain, over a BBC Radio 4 interview in which he said homosexuality was 'not acceptable'. A listener complained formally to the police, suggesting his comments were homophobic. In another controversial case last month, family campaigner Lynette Burrows was interviewed by Met officers after she said homosexuals should not be allowed to adopt in a discussion programme on BBC Radio Five Live. A listener called the police. Sir Ian has in the past faced criticism for his own perceived adherence to political correctness but appears keen to end frivolous investigations. Horror: Fiancee Adele went outside to ask police what was happening But his review raises the prospect of a growing role for police in deciding what constitutes free speech and could lead to officers dismissing complaints they deem absurd or trivial. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'Where complaints are made to police about allegedly discriminatory language, we have a duty to review what has been said to ensure that the law has not been broken and to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service for a decision when necessary. 'However, in the light of recent complaints generated by comments broadcast in the media, the Commissioner has asked for a review to examine where the boundary lies between freedom of speech in a democratic society and the appropriate police response and action to deal with formal complaintsalleging the law has been 'The purpose of the review is to assist in the way cases are dealt with in the future. 'It will not influence police action in relation to any cases already being looked into. Some cases will always justify investigation by police.' In perhaps the most controversial case of recent years, North Wales Police spent GBP4,000 and 96 man hours investigating alleged anti-Welsh comments made on TV by presenter Anne Robinson. Ultimately, no action was taken. Last month, Lancashire Police questioned devout Christian couple Joe and Helen Roberts at their home in Fleetwood, Lancashire, for 80 minutes after the elderly pair objected to what they saw as Wyre Council's pro-gay policy. broken. |