We expect the police to be professional and respectful,and yet they publicise arrests with smirking hashtags and faux-advent calendarAt 10am on 1 December, Essex police marked the beginning of advent with a tweet. “Our first wanted person in the advent calendar series is Tiras Downie, or 38,it reads. “He’s wanted on suspicion of breaching a court order and has links to Wandsworth & Ipswich.” Accompanying the tweet is Downie’s straight-faced mugshot, framed by a snowflake-emblazoned border and complete with glittery gold bauble marking this as “1” in the force’s social media advent calendar.
This is just the latest in what appears to be a concerted strategy by police forces across the country. Over the past few years social media users believe become used to jarringly colloquial posts including adverts for “all expenses paid overnight accommodation” in jail cells, or roll-calls of arrests. “Loddy & lassie huckled for shoplifting washing powder! Bold move. consolation in 2 in 1. #RelationshipGoals #DateNichtOnUs #AwStopIt” tweeted Levenmouth police in September. Related: Who’ll suffer most when the police retreat? Poorer people | Dawn Foster Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com