Will Chris Packham be arrested for his ‘inflammatory’ comments he made last weekend? The 63 year-old BBC presenter made bizarre speech at an Action for Wildlife Day event in Derbyshire in which he told Barclays customers to self-immolate. The Telegraph has more.
The environmental campaigner urged people not to bank with financial institutions that invest in “fossil fuels, weapons and poverty”.
Speaking at the event last weekend at Carsington in the Derbyshire Dales, he said: “But, if anyone here is banking with Barclays, then, I suggest you stick your head in a bucket of fuel and set fire to it because you’re burning our planet down. And, it’s time to put this stuff behind us.”
His comments have been criticised as incitement, amid claims they are inappropriate for a leading BBC broadcaster.
Barclays declined to comment on Friday.
Tim Bonner, the chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: “It appears that in an increasingly desperate bid to stay in the media spotlight, Mr Packham is resorting to saying more and more bizarre and outlandish things to get noticed.
“Few are taking much notice, but it does pose serious questions for the RSPB, RSPCA and BBC about how much longer they can justify turning a blind eye to this behaviour, while allowing him to continue playing a significant role in representing them on the national stage and in family-friendly broadcasting.
“The respectability of all three organisations is on the line”.
A complaint about Packham’s comments was also made to Derbyshire Constabulary.
The complainant, a country sports enthusiast who wishes to remain anonymous, wrote to officers asking how the BBC presenter’s comments could be legal “given the recent spate of civil unrest which we have seen across the country” and those “inciting people to take direct action.”
A police spokesman said: “The video has been reviewed and no offences have been committed.
“Each incident that takes place is reviewed based on the language used as well as the specific set of circumstances in which the comments are made.
“In this instance, while there is legislation covering individuals encouraging or assisting a person or persons to cause serious harm to themselves, there is no suggestion that this is a serious attempt to influence anyone to commit any such acts.
“The words used in this instance do not reach the threshold for an offence and no action will be taken in relation to this incident.”
Worth reading in full.
Meanwhile, a 61 year-old man who chanted “Who the f*** is Allah?” at a protest outside Downing Street has been sentenced to 18 months.
Two tier policing?
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