Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Radio showdown over police decision to fly special flag
A former candidate to be Kent police and crime commissioner has backed the force’s decision to fly a flag to mark Gypsy Roma Traveller History month.
A former crime commissioner candidate has said showing solidarity with communities helps build bridges, as police were slammed for supporting Gypsy Roma Traveller History month. Controversy struck last week after Kent Police tweeted out a photo of two officers holding the Gypsy Roma Traveller flag, prompting hundreds of angry responses from the public.
The force said: “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 & Roma heritage & we’ll continue to work with all communities to ensure this is a welcoming county for all.” The picture was retweeted more than 600 times and received hundreds of comments, many of those criticising top cops for the move.
But Cllr Tristan Osborne, who stood as Labour’s police and crime commissioner candidate in 2016, appeared on Nick Ferrari’s LBC show on Friday morning to back the decision to show support to the Gypsy and Roma communities.
The former special constable, who represents Luton and Wayfield on Medway Council, said: “Working with these communities is one of the strongest parts of the Kent Police ethos – not just the Gypsy Roma communities but other communities as well. “This was a photo to symbolise engagement with that community, and ultimately this does actually result in less cost later on – if you have strong relationships with communities, actually if there are problems in that community it helps resolve cases quicker.”
Mr Ferrari shot back at the councillor, arguing that police should not get involved in political campaigning and asking him: “Why fly a flag for Gypsy rights?”
The LBC host continued to tell listeners about his time living in Kent, when a toilet and plasterboard was dumped into his parent’s land, to which Cllr Osborne said we should be careful to point fingers at who is responsible for fly-tipping. Mr Ferarri added: “Why can they not tweet quick enough about Gypsy rights, but we have to ask about Armed Forces Day?”
Cllr Osborne replied: “There is a cost benefit argument here – if you are engaging with your communities to engage with the problems in that community, you can save money on issues later on, because you have a direct contact with these communities.”
Deputy Chief Constable Tony Blaker said: “Kent Police employs staff from all strands of society, including people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds, and this flag was flown in response to a request from serving officers in Kent. “British policing is by consent and Kent Police seeks to positively engage with all our communities, and in doing so we regularly show our support for other national and international events and religious festivals.”