Saturday 5 July 2014

“Freeze, Dirtbag! T-Shirt Squad!!”

Police have launched an investigation following complaints that a Skegness business is selling clothing that contains offensive language.
And the newspaper helpfully prints a picture of such foul garmenture, beneath a warning, of course:
WARNING: Clicking to the second image above reveals an image of the T-shirts that may be considered offensive.
If you click it, as I did, you’ll see nothing that will really shock you. Nothing that’ll make you belly-laugh, either, but that’s tacky seaside resort merchandise for you.
… town council officials were sent a letter from a visitor to the resort who claimed that T-shirts with ‘filthy’ slogans were being sold outside businesses on the town’s high street.
And instead of reading it and shrugging and throwing it in the bin, they felt that they had to DO SOMETHING! about this. Or rather, someone else should DO SOMETHING! about this.
A spokeswoman for Lincolnshire Police said the force was aware of the issue and would be looking into the matter.

“The issue of potentially offensive T-shirts was raised at a recent town council meeting,” she said.

“Skegness is a family resort and anything that may cause offence to families will be unwelcome in the town.”
The police don’t get paid to deal with ‘unwelcomeness’, they get paid to deal with crime. Are these T-shirts illegal? If not, politely tell the councillors that it’s not a matter for you.

After all, everyone else has:
Chad Saratoon, senior officer for Lincolnshire Trading Standards, said: "Unfortunately, we don’t currently have any powers to take these products away because of what is printed on them.

"We would only take action if they were infringing trademarks or copyright."
What is it with the NuPuritans we elect these days?

16 comments:

MTG said...

Never discount the plod perception of anyone being arrested for anything under section 5 of the 1986 Public Order Act and wilful disregard of pertinent High court rulings.

Tim Almond said...

Haha. I love the way they think Skeggy is some upmarket resort.

It's also the case that Donald McGill fell foul of the law up in Lincolnshire, so they may have a problem with that sort of thing.

Anonymous said...

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz wha wassat? Sorry Melv what were you saying? You just bored me again

Woodsy42 said...

Don't you love the way the newspaper(?) have hedged their bets by using a (n obviously deliberate) soft focus picture of the offending t-shirts.

ivan said...

Oh dear, what would they do if someone decided to bring back the 'naughty' postcards that were on sale at every seaside town and village in my youth? If that were to happen the NeoPuritans might just all pass on from apoplexy, a good thing.

Ian Hills said...

Remind me, is it an offence to cause offence yet?

Anonymous said...

I wish I could buy a T-shirt that said 'Just fuck off'.

So any prodnose reporting me to the police, when asked what was offensive, would reply 'Just fuck off'.

This is a family blog, so I left out the 'you twat' at the end.

Anonymous said...

Was someone selling t-shirts with this classic Viz design perhaps?

Furor Teutonicus said...

XX ivan said...

Oh dear, what would they do if someone decided to bring back the 'naughty' postcards XX

IIRC, THEY were also part of a "campaign of the righteous...." (Blackpool? Morecomb?) A few years ago.

XX Anonymous said...

I wish I could buy a T-shirt that said 'Just fuck off'. XX You can.

Go into any tourist crap shop in Berlin. They are all over the place.

OR go to your local Prontoprint, and get one made.

HOWEVER, to WEAR it, is a different thing.

Only TWO words will get you arrested/Summonsed for "offensive language" in Britain, "Fuck" and "Cunt."

All the rest are "open season."

Woman on a Raft said...

I was going to say something about shared public space, raising standards etc, but then I took a look on Streetview.

Skegness has more to worry about than a few t-shirts.

Anonymous said...

I've got an "I fuck sheep" shirt somewhere..

MTG said...

It's a wild street party in Yorkshire and everyone has donned a yellow T-shirt, Julia. Even plod are turning a blind eye to pedalling.

But I always knew your Southern pogrom would have wheel consequences.

Mr. Morden said...

Just tell them to FCUK themselves.

blueknight said...

Mine says 'Dip me in chocolate and throw me to the lesbians'. I haven't worn it yet. I need to choose the moment..

JuliaM said...

"It's also the case that Donald McGill fell foul of the law up in Lincolnshire, so they may have a problem with that sort of thing."

Must be something in the water...

"Don't you love the way the newspaper(?) have hedged their bets by using a (n obviously deliberate) soft focus picture of the offending t-shirts."

I know, I had to squint to make it out!

"Only TWO words will get you arrested/Summonsed for "offensive language" in Britain, "Fuck" and "Cunt.""

Especially in conjunction with the words 'Tony Blair'...

JuliaM said...

"Skegness has more to worry about than a few t-shirts. "

Indeed so!

"Just tell them to FCUK themselves."

/applauds