Humberside’s Police and Crime Commissioner has said anyone who makes comments or threats of action against the traveller community “is a racist”.
Earlier this year, a councillor highlighted social media threats and residents letters which included comments which repeated claims travellers could be “stoned, bottled and fire-bombed” by “Nunny thugs”.
Her comments resulted in complaints from human rights and traveller groups
Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner Keith Hunter said anyone reported to be making such threats against the community, which is a protected group in law, would be “fully investigated” by officers.
He said: “Anyone making comments or threats of action against the traveller community, anyone who makes comments along that line is a racist and are making criminal statements.
Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner Keith Hunter. Photo: Daniel Jaines
“Most of the people who talk about these things are cowards and will not back it up, but it provides a hostile environment for people to use more hateful language and I denounce that in the “strongest possible terms.”
We cannot allow anyone to make criminal statements about travellers in the belief they can getaway with it,” he said.
Mr Hunter said he has long been a proponent of local authorities providing sites for travellers to stay.
He believed it would help police perform their own roles better by allowing travellers who trespass on land the opportunity to move to a place they were allowed to be rather than illegally encamped.
North East Lincolnshire Council has drawn up a shortlist of five sites on the Nunsthorpe Estate and in South Ward which could be potential temporary stopping places.
Several of those against the plans, including Councillor Jane Bramley who highlighted the social media threats originally, gathered outside North East Lincolnshire Council Scrutiny last week.
They are:
The former youth club on Wootton Road, Nunsthorpe
Torksey Drive and Toynton Road site, off Winchester Avenue
Land under the Cleethorpe Road flyover
Garibaldi Street car park
The car park off Wellington Street
Public consultation is due to begin following the December 12 general election.
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Have I Got News For You star Paul Merton will perform his show ‘Impro Chums’ on stage at the New Theatre Royal Lincoln later this month.
Merton, Richard Vranch, Suki Webster, Mike McShane, and accompanist Kirsty Newton are back on the road, with Lincoln among the stops on the tour for an evening of improvisation.
Tickets are on sale priced at £25 for the show at 7.30pm on Tuesday, May 31 – buy your tickets here.
Merton is a writer, actor, comedian and radio and television present, who is known for his improvisation skill and deadpan humour. He is a founder member of The Comedy Store Players and still appears at the Comedy Store in London most Sundays.
The 64-year-old is also a resident guest on BBC Radio 4’s Just A Minute and his travel series on Channel Five called Paul Merton’s Adventures covered India, China and Europe. Last summer he co-stared with Suki Website in Motorhoming with Paul Merton as part of a six-part travel documentary for Channel 5.
His autobiography ‘Only When I Laugh’ reached the Sunday Times bestseller Top 10.
A 22-year-old man who died in a motorbike crash in Lincoln will be given a final send off with a rip-roaring procession on the way to his funeral.
Connor Peters, 22, tragically died in a crash on the B1190 Lincoln Road on Monday, May 9, as his black Lexmoto motorcycle collided with a white Isuzu van.
He unfortunately died at the scene, and a fundraiser was set up for the “cheeky, loveable rogue” to have the send off “he deserves”. At the time of reporting there is a remarkable £5,000 on the GoFundMe page, which you can visit here.
Connor Peters, pictured here with his mum, tragically died in a crash on Monday, May 9. | Photo: GoFundMe
Now, plans have been made for a motorbike procession to join the hearse taking Connor to his funeral service. The event, titled Connor Peters’ Last Ride, has been organised by his brother Josh.
It will take place at 11.50am on Monday, June 13, starting from Larne Road in Lincoln.
Josh says on the event’s Facebook page: “As a family, we are wanting a full motorcycle procession behind the funeral car, we want as many bikes, trikes, mopeds anything. We want so much noise remove all baffles removed, pops and bangs enough so he can hear from up there.
“Connor was a 22 year old lad that was full of life and was loved by so many, he loved his little 125cc, he thought that he had finally hit the big time but due to a awful turn of events he lost his life doing something he loved.
“For many of us bikers we can understand the love and passion he had for that short period of time. A biker fallen hits us all but we all club together to make an effort to remember those we lost.”
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