Latest news with #Offence
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Poll: Free speech is under threat in Britain
Free speech is under threat in Britain because people fear causing offence over race, religion and immigration, according to a new study. More than a third of Britons felt they had to self-censor their views on race or ethnicity while 32 per cent said they felt they could not speak freely about immigration or religious extremism. Some 41 per cent felt they had to hold back their views on transgender issues while 31 per cent felt constrained from discussing the conflict in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas terror attack. Almost half of Britons believe people are too easily offended, according to research for the Commission for Countering Extremism, which advises the Government. Older, white males are among those who feel the most restricted, and the more outspoken a person's views, the more likely they are feel constrained by the risk of offending others. The study, based on interviews with 2,500 people, was conducted by Ipsos to establish the state of free speech in Britain and was first reported by the Telegraph. People who are white, male, older and not university educated were more strongly in favour of free speech, regardless of the issue, but felt less able to speak their minds, the poll found. Some 48 per cent of this group said they felt they had to hold back their comments on race, far higher than the average of 36 per cent. The same was true on immigration, where 43 per cent felt they had to hold back on their views compared to an overall average among the public of 32 per cent. Among religious groups, Christians were more likely to back the right to free speech, but also more likely to feel they had to hold back on expressing their views. By contrast, women, younger Britons and people from ethnic minorities or non-Christian religions tended to think that people needed to be more sensitive in the way they spoke. Meanwhile the poll found that people predominantly held back from expressing their views to avoid causing offence or starting an argument. Some 46 per cent resisted expressing their views on any religious figure, text or teaching and 35 per cent held back their political views to avoid causing offence. Some people held back because of heightened concerns about their safety, with a quarter restraining themselves from discussing religion because of safety fears and 17 per cent their political views.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Free speech under threat as Brits fear causing offence over race religion and immigration
Free speech is under threat in Britain because people fear causing offence over race, religion and immigration, according to a new study. More than a third of Britons felt they had to self-censor their views on race or ethnicity while 32 per cent said they felt they could not speak freely about immigration or religious extremism. Some 41 per cent felt they had to hold back their views on transgender issues while 31 per cent felt constrained from discussing the conflict in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas terror attack. Almost half of Britons believe people are too easily offended, according to research for the Commission for Countering Extremism, which advises the Government. Older, white males are among those who feel the most restricted, and the more outspoken a person's views, the more likely they are feel constrained by the risk of offending others. The study, based on interviews with 2,500 people, was conducted by Ipsos to establish the state of free speech in Britain and was first reported by the Telegraph. People who are white, male, older and not university educated were more strongly in favour of free speech, regardless of the issue, but felt less able to speak their minds, the poll found. Some 48 per cent of this group said they felt they had to hold back their comments on race, far higher than the average of 36 per cent. The same was true on immigration, where 43 per cent felt they had to hold back on their views compared to an overall average among the public of 32 per cent. Among religious groups, Christians were more likely to back the right to free speech, but also more likely to feel they had to hold back on expressing their views. By contrast, women, younger Britons and people from ethnic minorities or non-Christian religions tended to think that people needed to be more sensitive in the way they spoke. Meanwhile the poll found that people predominantly held back from expressing their views to avoid causing offence or starting an argument. Some 46 per cent resisted expressing their views on any religious figure, text or teaching and 35 per cent held back their political views to avoid causing offence. Some people held back because of heightened concerns about their safety, with a quarter restraining themselves from discussing religion because of safety fears and 17 per cent their political views. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said that the Left's 'determination to shut down debate around immigration has created a chilling environment for free speech'. He told the Telegraph: 'In this context, a catch-all definition of Islamophobia would be a disaster, worsening the culture of fear that has spread throughout society.'
BBC News
06-02-2025
- BBC News
Hundreds of driving offences in Suffolk caught by police lorry
A police operation that made use of a lorry to target offending drivers detected 169 offences over a five-day Police was provided with a HGV by National Highways between 27 and 31 Tramline allowed officers to patrol roads including the A14, A12 and A11 using the elevated position to detect drivers of all types of vehicles that were committing Terry Henry, of the commercial vehicle unit, said the operation was a "productive week of action". A total of 155 vehicles were stopped including 55 HGVs and 44 smaller goods person was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving while others were issued with Traffic Offence Reports for offences like not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone, not being in proper control and insecure loads."Among the 36 people caught using a mobile phone, one of them thought it would be funny to film us whilst he was driving at 70mph - until he realised who we were," PC Henry said. "We didn't need to be expert lip readers to decipher the words that came out of his mouth when he did realise. "He will now receive a £200 fine and six points for his reckless actions."The officer added that the offences seen during the operation "could be a matter of life and death". 'No excuse' Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, said the force's results were "impressive"."Although I'm absolutely staggered by the mindless stupidity of so many drivers risking their own lives, and the lives of others with their unacceptable behaviour behind the wheel," he added."I find it very disappointing that drivers still need to be reminded about something as obvious as putting on a seat belt or not using a mobile phone – there really is no excuse for that at all."National Highways road safety programme manager, Lawrence Seager, said while it was the minority of drivers that put themselves and others at risk, the agency needed "everyone to consider their driving behaviours so we can all get home safely". Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
