Can you call a paedophile a paedophile in the street?
Discussion
Harassment needs to be more than one event. You need to post more about the circumstances (did you read it in an article?).
Of course it can be the case. Imagine if X follows Y for hours each day calling them a paedophile constantly. Even if it's true, X can still be criminally harassing Y.
Of course it can be the case. Imagine if X follows Y for hours each day calling them a paedophile constantly. Even if it's true, X can still be criminally harassing Y.
robbocop33 said:
is it classed as harassment even if it's true??
According to the CPS website - harassment is:"repeated attempts to impose unwanted communications and contact upon a victim in a manner that could be expected to cause distress or fear in any reasonable person."
Whether or not what you are saying is true seems to be irrelevant.
If you walked up to a fat person on the street and repeatedly made reference to their weight, would you class that as harassment?
If you walked up to a person of colour on the street and repeatedly made reference to the colour of their skin, would you class that as harassment?
In both cases - what you are saying might be factually correct - but that doesn't mean you aren't harassing the person.
Mr Tidy said:
So does that mean free speech is some sort of concept, rather than something we can actually do? 
Like nearly all rights it's qualified so if you like "Some sort of concept". Technically we have our Article 10 rights freedom of expression. So we have "This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. "But it has small print
"The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary."
Until the Human Rights Act and despite what a lot of people think there was only an explicit right to free speech in parliament. So Boris may be right but the only legal Freedom of speech we have came from Europe
Edited by Graveworm on Monday 20th August 05:42
Countdown said:
Mr Tidy said:
So does that mean free speech is some sort of concept, rather than something we can actually do?
Boris seems to be right IMO!
“Freedom of speech” shouldn’t mean “Freedom to be a twunt”.Boris seems to be right IMO!
Let’s face it we’re not talking about a lecture on socialism here we’re talking about some thicko calling names in the street.
buggalugs said:
Countdown said:
Mr Tidy said:
So does that mean free speech is some sort of concept, rather than something we can actually do?
Boris seems to be right IMO!
“Freedom of speech” shouldn’t mean “Freedom to be a twunt”.Boris seems to be right IMO!
Let’s face it we’re not talking about a lecture on socialism here we’re talking about some thicko calling names in the street.
Of course you can call someone a paedophile (aslong as you are correct in saying this) but what you can't do is follow them around and make a show of them and harassing them or use it as a way of bullying them.
You can do what Boris did and call someone a letterbox but in this modern day society dont expect to be seen as some kind of hero for freedom of speech, you will be seen for what you are - a racist.
Mr Tidy said:
So does that mean free speech is some sort of concept, rather than something we can actually do?
Boris seems to be right IMO!
Would you feel the same way, if someone followed you round and called you some sort of offensive expletive all day? Or worse, what if everyone you met did the same? Would you be as keen to defend their right to Freedom of Speech, even though we really don’t have such an explicit right?Boris seems to be right IMO!
Countdown said:
Mr Tidy said:
So does that mean free speech is some sort of concept, rather than something we can actually do?
Boris seems to be right IMO!
“Freedom of speech” shouldn’t mean “Freedom to be a twunt”.Boris seems to be right IMO!
Freedom of expression has limits. The oft quoted "freedom of speech does not grant you freedom to shout 'fire' in a crowded theatre".
Freedom of expression usually hits the limit when other laws become involved. Harassment in this case, your right to express yourself does not override another's right to safety.
In the OP's case, I suspect that the guy may not have actually had been a paedophile, but rather just a shifty looking loner who people "think" is a paedo because they dont like him. Sadly this kind of thing happens more often than it should in western society.
Boosted LS1 said:
Boris isn't a racist imo. He cracked a joke and a lot of people found it quite funny. If somebody joked about me looking like a pillar box it wouldn't be racist and I certainly wouldn't get all huffy about it.
His wife is mixed race. I don't know if he's a racist or not. Pretty sure he's a
though. Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff