[PeteyPete]

If only they could figure out how to jail people for thought over there:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/england/manchester/3145081.stm

Michael Guilfoyle faces being imprisoned for using the word "Paki" in public, under the terms of an anti-social behaviour order, imposed by magistrates in Manchester.

Guilfoyle, 31, has also been told he could be prosecuted for behaving anti-socially or using insulting, abusive or homophobic language.

Manchester City Council brought the prosecution after Guilfoyle, of Ardwick, Manchester referred to two housing officers in racist and homophobic ways, the court heard.

Guilfoyle also made a series of abusive phone calls to council officials over a housing application.

Under the terms of the order, Guilfoyle was banned from abusing council housing staff and employees of North British Housing, approaching or communicating with witnesses, threatening violence or attempting criminal damage.

If he breaches it, he could face a maximum five years in jail.

After the order was imposed Manchester councillor Basil Curley said the use of offensive language and behaviour will not be tolerated.

"Let there be no doubt in people's minds. Manchester Housing will take action against tenants, their children and visitors if they use racist language or threatening behaviour," he said.

A spokeswoman for Manchester City Council said she did not know of another case like it in the UK.

The order, imposed last Thursday, came less than a month after a football fan was banned from all Premiership and Nationwide League grounds for three years after using the word "Paki" in racist chants.

Port Vale supporter Sean Ratcliffe, 21, from Stoke-on-Trent, was also fined £150 and ordered to pay £120 in costs after he was convicted.

[seeker_two]

Sticks & stones may break my bones....

But words are going to COST you... :barf:

[longeyes]

"Enlightened" fascism is still fascism. You don't jail people for being ignorant.

[Zedicus]

If Reffering to a Pakastani Individual with the Abbriviation of "Paki" is a Arrestable Crime Now...

Then why do the British Get Away with Reffering to Americans as "Yanks"???:cuss: :fire:

[spacemanspiff]

Guilfoyle was banned from abusing council housing staff and employees of North British Housing, approaching or communicating with witnesses, threatening violence or attempting criminal damage.
wow, it takes a court order for someone NOT to engage in abuse, threats, or attempting damage?

our courts should do the same thing. send an order out to each citizen telling them it is illegal for them to rob, steal, maim, murder, assault, rape, molest, smoke, drink, use drugs, envy their neighbors wife, commit adultrey, and most importantly, to NOT insult people.

[agricola]

This is an Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) introduced by the Government following the 1997 Election victory as the first part of their "tough on crime" strategy.

Basically the order is meant to be applied for following a sustained period of offending whereby all other remedies have been tried - imprisonment, community service, fines etc. - with no change in the behaviour. As I gather, this chap was racially abusing people fairly regularly down the phone, which is covered by several offences here. In approximate terms, its the same as a restraining order in the US but in Criminal Law, backed up by a maximum sentence of five years for the breach of an ASBO.

[DadOfThree]

In approximate terms, its the same as a restraining order in the US but in Criminal Law
I've never heard of a restraining order that says you are restricted from offending people.
Anti Social Behaviour Order
I don't normally get involved in England bashing threads but that really sounds like something Huxley would have come up with in Brave New World.

[MeekandMild]

Gully Foyle is my name
And Terra is my nation.
Deep space is my dwelling place,
The stars my destination.

[Aikibiker]

That is just nuts, granted the guy is a putz and I hate that kind of language, but that is just wrong.

There but for the grace of God and our founding fathers' hobby of shooting redcoats go we.

[Orthonym]

LIMEY! :neener:

[KC]

"Then why do the British Get Away with Reffering to Americans as "Yanks"???"

Because we are not an Opressed Minority/Indigenous Peoples, with a Legacy of Chattel Slavery under the Repressive Thumb of Colonial Overlords. Well, we were, but got over it and threw them out. The Pakis, Mohommedans, and other Asiatics didn't, at least in the same way as the American colonies did.:D

Fun Fact: If you are male and white in the US and not a senile citizen, you may be legally discriminated against. But, you are (under Ca law at least) what race you say you are, and can change your mind at will. A lot of fun has been had with the second....


KC

[Leatherneck]

I too avoid threads that bash the Brits (can I still call them that without risking jail?) but this mindset is so alien to me I'm at a loss for words. The Atlantic is seeming so very wide right now...:what:

TC
TFL Survivor

[Mk VII]

While different cultures have different taboo words which may be meaningless in another society saying this word in public is about as acceptable as saying '******' in Washington D.C. these days.
You may argue for your Constitutional Right right to say '******' if you want to but you won't get a lot of people to support you.
I guess the answer is that while we value freedom of speech we don't worship it.

[Leatherneck]

MK VII: But I won't be risking being jailed by my government if I say that. That's the difference.:rolleyes:

TC
TFL Survivor

[cslinger]

Lord I could get the chair for all my anti social discretions.

I am an equal opportunity offender. I may well have offended every race, creed, color, religion and sex the world has ever known.............even my OWN.

I am going to have to seek reparations from myself.:D

[Duncan Idaho]

The Atlantic is seeming so very wide right now... THANK YOU GOD!!!!!

[Kharn]

What happens if a Pakistani in the UK calls another Pakistani a 'paki'? Would he be thrown in jail? Are Pakistanis that call white people 'Limey' or 'Yank' thrown in jail? Being PC is so confusing. :confused:

Kharn

[atk]

Agricola,

I'm wondering if I understand correctly:

1. This person is assumed to have a history of destructive behaviour.
2. The Anti Social Behaviour Order is applied only after all other attempts to reform the individual have failed, including jail, community service, etc.
3. We can therefore conclude that this person has been to jail, performed community service, etc.
4. We can further conclude that this person has continued his destructive behaviour.

So, now, instead of removing this person, who utterly refuses to reform, from society (i.e. jailing him), the court has decided to ask him to stop misbehaving? Why does the court believe that this will have any effect, when other, more agressive attempts have completely failed? Or is it just unlocking the trap door, so to speak, so that he'll be able to fall in and go to jail? Or am I just totally missing the point?

Thanks :)

[KRAUTGUNNER]

"Great"Britain SUCKS!!! :barf: :barf: :barf:

[agricola]

atk,

that is whats being done here - creating a condition whereby if the behaviour continues he will be gaoled.

[longeyes]

I don't know what the non-whites in the UK call the whites when they
are in a state of pique, but is that also a jailable offense? Or is
it just the "minority" that needs to be protected from vile epithets?