Bacon gift to Muslim officer costs Pc's job

[Zyklon B]

I think society has gone far too politically correct

Quite an understatement.

Dietary rules are no laughing matter. I once gave a bottle of wine to an Indian neighbour, a guy who used a Western first name, and caused absolute consternation because his wife was Muslim and so, of necessity after marriage, was he. I just about got away with it by pleading ignorance in my defence. People working in multi-faith environments need to be fully informed about the sensitivities involved.

Perhaps people from foreign religions ought to educate themselves as to the mores of Irish society, rather than oblige the rest of us to learn about the prescriptions of every world religion out there.

Should Trevor McDonald have been sacked for calling Bernard Manning a 'fat white b*stard'?

[MarD]

Does nobody else think that there is a certain irony in that this was a 'Secret Santa' at Christmas time ?

[geraghd]

Does nobody else think that there is a certain irony in that this was a 'Secret Santa' at Christmas time ?

Well spotted. Totally over looked that point. I mean if he was that sensitive to such matters (which really he shouldnt be), then he probably wouldnt have even partaken in the entire Christian tradition.

[mbari hogun]

PC GONE MAD!

Seriously though, this is an unfortunate incident. What's considered offensive should really only be relevant to the officers involved.

[odie1kanobe]

PC GONE MAD!

Seriously though, this is an unfortunate incident. What's considered offensive should really only be relevant to the officers involved.

PC showed a total lack of judgement which given he is based in Luton which has a high proportion of Muslims then clearly he has issues with this.

UK police don't need any more cops running around with issues given the history of some of the police forces there.

[storybud]

PC Murrie was an immature fool and should have paid a stiff price, I do not believe he had the balls the stick it out, apologise then just carry on ( he resigned), his Muslim colleague was not bothered (good man) but the gob************************es in charge are using this ( they have the media contacts) to prove to the Muslim population that they are, essentially gob************************es anyway.

Admit your mistake, try and get your apology accepted and carry on,- no - he took the easy way out and wasted taxpayers money spent on training him.

[mercymercyme]

I think society has gone far too politically correct

Quite an understatement.

Dietary rules are no laughing matter. I once gave a bottle of wine to an Indian neighbour, a guy who used a Western first name, and caused absolute consternation because his wife was Muslim and so, of necessity after marriage, was he. I just about got away with it by pleading ignorance in my defence. People working in multi-faith environments need to be fully informed about the sensitivities involved.

I don't think they do. In order for something like this to be a sackable offence, firstly the act has to be intended to be offensive, and second it has to be intrepreted as offensive by the person at whom it was directed. In this case, it wasn't interpreted as offensive. In other cases, it isn't the reponsibility of everyone under the sun to investigate everything they say and do on the offchance that it was by interpreted as offensive even if they didn't intend it to be such. If you didn't know, you shouldn't be punished.

That isn't the case at all, at least in the private sector company I work with. We've all just had to do mandatory training on respect for the individual in the last week and it makes it quite clear that if something is likely to cause offense it shouldn't be said/done and its a punishable action even if noone complains. Its also up to management to try prevent this behaviour by taking action themselves, even if its not directed against them or they themselves ar not a member of a minority group - its to guard against intimidation I suppose. For instance The police officer involved could have been deeply offended but felt that he would be unable to complain and remain working with his fellow officers due to a closing of the ranks.

I do think a resignation was a bit much though, perhaps an apology/reprimand would have been more in order. More can somethingsd be solved with a handshake.

[pocleary]

PC Murrie was an immature fool and should have paid a stiff price, I do not believe he had the balls the stick it out, apologise then just carry on ( he resigned), his Muslim colleague was not bothered (good man) but the gob************************es in charge are using this ( they have the media contacts) to prove to the Muslim population that they are, essentially gob************************es anyway.

Admit your mistake, try and get your apology accepted and carry on,- no - he took the easy way out and wasted taxpayers money spent on training him.

Perhaps The Muslim Cop was keeping his head down, imagine the stick he would get if he reported a white english cop and then the cop was sacked, coventry here he comes, boycotted even, hes prob no Serpico,
peer pressure in the Police is the system.

[pocleary]

PC GONE MAD!

Seriously though, this is an unfortunate incident. What's considered offensive should really only be relevant to the officers involved.

racist abuse is still racist even if dressed up as a JOKE.
What if (for example) A Muslim gave a present to a white cop that made fun of the 7/7 bombings on the underground, say a doctored picture or a islamic news article defending those bombings, would he just get a few laughs,
He would be arrested.

[pocleary]

Does nobody else think that there is a certain irony in that this was a 'Secret Santa' at Christmas time ?

Well spotted. Totally over looked that point. I mean if he was that sensitive to such matters (which really he shouldnt be), then he probably wouldnt have even partaken in the entire Christian tradition.

Did it say he bought a xmas present for another cop or just that he received one, I get presents from my Muslim friends at Eid , and they even bring me back christain items from the Hoily land when they go on Holidays, I would never give them a bacon sarnie in return,