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Wierd world

Red Robin

Well-known member
With the muslims over taking eroupe the cops are out questioning 70 year old guys for condemning homosexuality?

Christian couple wins pay-out after police questioning
23/12/2006 - 10:55:32

A Christian couple questioned by police in England for describing homosexuality as "morally wrong" have won a £10,000 (€15,000) payout and an apology.

Helen and Joe Roberts were reported to police last December after they asked their local council - Wyre Borough Council - to display Christian literature alongside leaflets about gay rights.

The council refused, which prompted Mrs Roberts to make a telephone complaint in which she described homosexual practice as "morally wrong".

Two police officers then visited the Roberts' home and questioned them for an hour and 20 minutes about their moral beliefs.

The couple took legal action against Lancashire Constabulary and Wyre Borough Council for infringing their freedom of expression and religious belief, and a High Court hearing was due to take place next month.

The Roberts have now agreed to drop the action after both the police and council apologised and offered £10,000 (€15,000), which will be donated to charity, plus legal costs.

In a written apology, Lancashire Police accepted they should have made proper inquiries before deploying officers.

The apology states: "The decision to send the officers was made after consideration. However, on reflection, we do believe that further inquiries should have been made before they were deployed.

"Had those inquiries been undertaken then we accept it is very likely that our approach would have been different and the officers would not have been deployed.

"We understand the distress you felt at, and following, the visit from the police officers, and we regret that. We fully accept that we now know that you never committed or threatened any crime."

The apology also states that procedures have been reviewed and offers to consult the Roberts on further changes.

Wyre Borough Council's written apology recognised a "fundamental weakness" of its procedures was that a single council officer could deem an incident as homophobic.





The apology reads: "We recognise this was a traumatic incident for you and are writing to express our regret and apologise for the way in which this matter was handled.

"As you are aware, the matter was reported by a council officer to Lancashire Constabulary in accordance with policies and procedures agreed between the police and the council to promote the effective reporting of homophobic incidents.

"These were new policies that have since evolved and developed with the benefit of experience, including the outcome of this case.

"With the benefit of hindsight, we recognise that a fundamental weakness of the procedures followed by the council at this time was that an incident could be reported by a single officer on the basis of his individual evaluation of the incident."

In a statement released by pressure group the Christian Institute, the Roberts said: "We are delighted at the result. It has been a long year battling this case and we are so pleased that common sense has prevailed."

Retired carpenter Mr Roberts, 74, said today that he and his wife were "elated".

He said: "We're both absolutely elated by this result. It has been a long and stressful year, but we are glad we stuck by our principles.

"This is a great victory for Christianity, for civil liberties and for anyone who wants to express an opinion which may go against what the political correctness brigade think.

"We have sent soldiers to die in Iraq to give people democratic freedom but in this country you get your collar felt for something you say in a private conversation with a council official.

"It is ludicrous, but at least common sense has prevailed and the council and police have eaten a bit of humble pie."

Mr Roberts said the £10,000 (€15,000) would be donated to the Christian Institute, which supported them during their fight.

He added: "This was never about money. It was about principles."
 

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