'Kidnap' bumper sticker sparks police probe

[BlackLabel]

How bizarre.

itv.com said:

A truck bumper sticker depicting a kidnapped woman in the vehicle's boot has been investigated by police after several people made complaints.

After the image was captured in Leeds city centre and shared on social media, police tracked down the driver of the pick-up truck and advised him to remove the "offensive" sticker.

Chief Inspector Steve Palmer, Leeds City Centre Commander, said:

We were contacted by a caller raising concerns about a photographic image which made it appear there was a female bound and gagged in the back of the truck.

These concerns were also raised on social media which prompted a number of similar complaints to West Yorkshire Police. It was clear that a number of people had found the image offensive and had been alarmed and distressed by it being displayed in public.

– Steve Palmer

The truck owner agreed to have the image removed from the vehicle after being warned that it could be treated as a public order offence.

http://www.itv.com/news/2014-11-20/kidnap-bumper-sticker-sparks-police-probe/

[LouD86]

How the hell is it a public order offence??? Its quite obviously a sticker, she isn't moving, or bouncing with the pickup truck that she is supposudly laid in!

I tell you what, what offends me is the stick men families, and the powered by fairydust stickers! Lets get those tared with the same brush!

[LordGrover]

In a handcart... that's how we'll get there.

[Axionknight]

I'd say it's in fairly bad taste, but police involvement? The crime statistics in Leeds must be low if they have time to dedicate to this rubbish.

[Blaster72]

Pretty tasteless and no doubt driven by a shouty look at me type.

Just weird to stick this sort of thing on the back of your truck.

Still, I'm sure the Police have better things to do.

[Lost soul]

Axionknight said:

I'd say it's in fairly bad taste, but police involvement?

Ridiculous , bad taste maybe

[aka_kerrly]

Presumably the truck with image of Jeremy Clarkson tied up in the boot is more acceptable as people can see a difference between a picture depicting a tied up middle aged celebrity and a random woman?

[creampuff]

I'm happy to see that removed under threat of being charged with a public order offence. It is in extremely bad taste. It depicts a serious crime. It is highly offensive to a large part of the population. It is unlikely to be seen as funny by anyone. There are any number of grossly offensive things which are not specifically mentioned as being illegal which could result in being charged with public order offences.

[anonymous-user]

creampuff said:

I'm happy to see that removed under threat of being charged with a public order offence. It is in extremely bad taste. It depicts a serious crime. It is highly offensive to a large part of the population. It is unlikely to be seen as funny by anyone. There are any number of grossly offensive things which are not specifically mentioned as being illegal which could result in being charged with public order offences.

i agree with you and as you insinuate a massive belled on the back would be better taste and funny.

[creampuff]

The Spruce goose said:

i agree with you and as you insinuate a massive belled on the back would be better taste and funny.

Yeah, if you put a bellend on the back of a pick up truck with a "I'm a" in front then at least some people would find it funny and snigger and some would still be offended. It isn't black-and-white. I don't think anybody would find this pic of somebody tied up funny except psychos.

[aka_kerrly]

creampuff said:

I don't think anybody would find this pic of somebody tied up funny except psychos.

Oh dear, I best be sectioned then for finding it mildly amusing whilst in no way thinking, "the picture makes me feel like abducting someone."

Can people stop being so over dramatic?

[GCH]

Did anyone ever get prosecuted in the 80s for those fake stick on fingers / arms hanging from the back of a car?
Thought not...

[Beati Dogu]

Oh noes! Nic Cage has been kidnapped!

[mph1977]

LouD86 said:

How the hell is it a public order offence??? Its quite obviously a sticker, she isn't moving, or bouncing with the pickup truck that she is supposudly laid in!

I tell you what, what offends me is the stick men families, and the powered by fairydust stickers! Lets get those tared with the same brush!

an image that causes alarm, harassment or distress

sadly 'pwoered by fairy dust' stickers don;t pass a either a 'reasonable practitioner' or 'man on the clapham omnibus' test of alarm harassment or distress ... where images of criminal activities and/or of a fetishistic nature may well do so.

[anonymous-user]

I agree very bizarre. What sort of idiot thinks it's a good idea to drive around with that on their vehicle . Asking to be pulled, good job too.

[Rovinghawk]

creampuff said:

I'm happy to see that removed under threat of being charged with a public order offence. It is in extremely bad taste. It is highly offensive to a large part of the population. It is unlikely to be seen as funny by anyone. There are any number of grossly offensive things which are not specifically mentioned as being illegal which could result in being charged with public order offences.

You could say all of that about a photo of a grinning Tony Blair.


“It's now very common to hear people say, 'I'm rather offended by that.' As if that gives them certain rights. It's actually nothing more... than a whine. 'I find that offensive.' It has no meaning; it has no purpose; it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. 'I am offended by that.' Well, so fking what."

[I saw hate in a graveyard -- Stephen Fry, The Guardian, 5 June 2005]”

[MrHorsepower]

Axionknight said:

I'd say it's in fairly bad taste, but police involvement? The crime statistics in Leeds must be low if they have time to dedicate to this rubbish.

This.

I'd be tempted to have it on the back of my car (when I get one) just to ps off tts, but it's a bit st so I won't. How did we come to live in a world where the chief concern of the law was to pander to a useless minority's petty sensitivities.

[Pothole]

MrHorsepower said:

Axionknight said:

I'd say it's in fairly bad taste, but police involvement? The crime statistics in Leeds must be low if they have time to dedicate to this rubbish.

This.

I'd be tempted to have it on the back of my car (when I get one) just to ps off tts, but it's a bit st so I won't. How did we come to live in a world where the chief concern of the law was to pander to a useless minority's petty sensitivities.

The same way we came to live in a world where you think the chief concern of the law is to pander to a useless minority's petty sensitivities??

[anonymous-user]

creampuff said:

I don't think anybody would find this pic of somebody tied up funny except psychos.

I'll be honest, I genuinely laughed out loud when I saw the photo, my girlfriend asked what I was laughing at so I showed her and she laughed as well.

I'm pretty sure we aren't psychos.

[vonuber]

MrHorsepower said:

to pander to a useless minority's petty sensitivities.

What, women?