Now police f ly f lag for gypsy rights
After officers ‘took the knee’ for race protesters...
‘It’s patronising virtue-signalling’
POLICE faced criticism yesterday after releasing a photograph of officers holding a gypsy flag.
Members of the public accused Kent Police of being patronising and ‘ virtue- signalling’ after they posted the image on Twitter.
It comes after the force’s chief constable, Alan Pughsley, became the UK’s first top-ranking officer to ‘ take the knee’ in support of Black Lives Matter protests.
Yesterday’s post shows two officers, Deputy Chief Constable Tony Blaker and PC Kate West, holding up the blue and green flag with a red caravan wheel in the centre.
Alongside it, the force wrote: ‘We’re marking Gypsy Roma Traveller History month by raising the “GRT” flag’, helping to show our continued support for diverse communities. Kent’s history has a rich Gypsy and Roma heritage and we’ll continue to work with all communities to ensure this is a welcoming county for all.’
The post attracted hundreds of comments, many from residents questioning the force’s priorities.
One Twitter used wrote: ‘Dear Kent Police, as this week is Armed Forces Week, could you tell us how you intend marking this event?’
A second said: ‘Dear God, give me strength. When are the police going to stop virtue signaling and doing what they’re paid to do and police?’ Another read: ‘Proper paid-up Romany here – born in a caravan in Farnborough, Kent. Lay off the patronising virtue- signalling. We don’t need flag waving, we need effective policing.’ Tensions between travellers and other residents in Kent have risen in recent years over unauthorised sites auch as in Dane Valley in Margate.
But Kent Police defended their right to celebrate diversity, saying shows of support could improve their relationship with groups such as travellers. Detective Chief
Constable Blaker said: ‘British policing is by consent and Kent Police seeks to positively engage with all our communities. In doing so we regularly show our support for other national and international events and religious festivals.’
A spokesman for rights group Friends, Families and Travellers said: ‘We encourage people, especially those who hold hatred and fear towards Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, to take some time to learn something this month. We have far more in common than that which divides us.’
London mayor Sadiq Khan said: ‘Gypsies, Roma and Travellers have lived, worked and travelled throughout Britain for over 500 years and have made a huge contribution to London and the UK.’