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Law which made it illegal to call a police horse ‘gay’ is to be changed
Telegraph UK
A law which has been used to try to convict a student who said “woof” to a police dog, or called a police horse ”gay” is to be changed.
Home secretary Theresa May said the Government will accept a House of Lords amendment to remove the word ‘insulting’ from Section 5 of the Public Order Act.
The amendment had been promoted in the House of Lords by Lord Dear, a former HM Inspector of Constabulary.
Six years ago police tried to prosecute Oxford student Sam Brown after he said to a mounted officer: “Excuse me, do you realise your horse is gay?”
Mr Brown, who made the comment during a night out with friends in Oxford after his final exams, was arrested under section 5 of the Public Order Act for making homophobic remarks.
However, after he refused to pay a £80 fine, the Crown Prosecution Service declined to pursue the case.
The following year Kyle Little, a 16-year-old from Newcastle, was fined £50 with £150 costs for saying “woof” to a Labrador dog in front of police officers.
Eventually the magistrates’ decision was overturned by a crown court. He had been arrested and charged under the Public Order legislation.
The amendment has had been pushed for by comedian Rowan Atkinson who had warned that criticism, unfavourable comparison or “merely stating an alternative point of view” could be interpreted as an insult and lead to arrest.
Mary Jane Anklestraps
January 15th, 2013
Woof! That entire law is gay.
thirdtwin
January 15th, 2013
This is what happens when you don’t have a First Amendment, Piers. I see why you’d rather shoot your fat mouth off here. You’d be in jail or broke from paying fines over there.
Dan Ryan Galt
January 15th, 2013
Best you not be sayin woof to my Lab cause he only understands English.
Well, most of the time cept when I call him or tell him to get off the bed.
Billy Fuster
January 15th, 2013
To whom was this insulting? The dog? The horse?
conservative cowgirl
January 15th, 2013
George says, “neigh” would be highly insulting ’cause he’s Arabian. He insists that whinnying in Arabic is, “يصهل الحصان “
RosalindJ
January 15th, 2013
The more information I get about Britain, the more I think most of them are retarded. Socially, legally and mentally. How people like Daniel Hannan have made it through is beyond me.
Edith McCrotch
January 15th, 2013
The Black Adder strikes again !!!
Dagny
January 15th, 2013
Oh man, Jesus would be arrested quite fast in the UK.
Tony R
January 15th, 2013
@thirdtwin: we have a first amendment because we have a second.
Patricia
January 17th, 2013
WOOF! Woof woof woof woof woof! Woof!!