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Police seize golliwogs in racism probe
Last updated at 20:37pm on 15.03.07When police received allegations of racism, their reaction was impressively swift.
They swooped on the premises in question and seized a pair of suspects to help with their inquiries. Questioning them was not an option, however – for they were both rag dolls.
Gavin Alexander with some of the golly rag dolls and a selection of the other ornaments he sells
Their alleged crime was that they were designed in the style of a golliwog, and a visitor to the shop where they were on sale had complained to police.
As a result shopkeeper Gavin Alexander faced a £1,000 fine after being accused of a public order offence.
Police have since returned the dolls and said charges were not being pressed. But Mr Alexander, 39, attacked the decision to take the complaint seriously in the first place.
"Surely the police have got more important things to do?" he said. "It's cases like this that cause racism."
His shop, In Touch in the village of Wrightington, Lancashire, sells soft toys, curiosities, furniture and other products.
The £4.50 "golly rag dolls" and matching key-rings were on display with African statues and Buddha figures.
Apparently a woman customer called police to complain that the golly-style dolls were racially offensive.
The next day two officers arrived and confiscated one 6in doll and one keyring. They took a statement from Mr Alexander and told him to remove the remaining gollies from sale.
Finally, however, it was concluded that no offence had been committed and the dolls are now back on sale.
Mr Alexander is the latest trader to face prosecution for selling golliwogs, once popular toys but now shunned as crude racist stereotypes.
Last year shopkeeper Donald Reynolds was threatened with prosecution for offensive behaviour after displaying golliwogs in his hardware shop in Bromyard, Herefordshire.
Furniture store boss John Scadgell was threatened under the same legislation over gollies in the window of his shop in Worthing, West Sussex.
The Commission for Racial Equality said the question of whether golliwogs were considered racist depended on the context in which they were displayed.
"Some people might find them offensive, some people might not," said a spokesman.
Last night Lancashire Police said: "This incident was reported to us by a member of the public.
"No offences have been committed and it is no longer a police matter."
The golliwog first appeared in a children's story by American writer Florence Kate Upton in the 19th century and was popularised in Britain when jam manufacturer James Robertson & Sons adopted it as a symbol for its products in 1910.
By the 1980s, however, it was increasingly seen as offensive and Robertson's dropped the golly in 2001.
Reader views (12)
I find myself saddened to read the comment on this site posted by Brandon Thomas from London. The person who complained to the police was obviously deeply offended by the presence of the dolls. I can empathise completely as I had an equally disturbing meeting with the so-called 'memorabilia' in my workplace recently. There is no doubt in my mind that the dolls are offensive and particularly to people of colour. In a society that prides itself on equality and diversity I find myself let down by the people who can do something about it. Maybe you see it as a waste of ploice time but, I see it as a person who felt a personal attack had taken place and I agree with the person who complained; I feel exactly that when I walk into a shop that displays 'gollys'. Is it not enough that this country played a huge role in demeaning black people that now we have to accept these offensive dolls as part of our heritage? I recommend, Brandon, that you do some research on the topic and come back when you can think about how a black person or a person of colour might feel when they see such things. If by chance you are a person of colour then I suggest you read somne of our literature, gain an understanding of the pain that our people felt and try to see things from their perspective. I defy any man or woman who defines themselves as 'non-racist' to come back having done the leg work and tell me that this is simply a case of political correctness gone mad.
- Tanya Mccalmon, Leeds, UK
This type of complaint is known as beating a dog in its kennel with its own bone. A bit of chicanery enjoyed by the person making the complaint. The law is a joke.
- Jack London, london uk
First of all you have to condemn the person who complained to the police about these dolls, as clearly they have a bias agenda. These same people going around as part of the so called "PC Brigade" forcing their extreme left view agenda on innocent members of society. It is a sad state of affairs when our police waste time and money actually investigating these complaints, when they should be our catching real criminals. In years to come we are going to look back on all this PC rubbish and wonder how any of it was taken seriously a the time, as it is a bizarre time right now with this left nonsense...
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
Police officers can only respond to a complaint - it makes me wonder what kind of petty minded idiot would have called the Police about this in the first place...
- Jk, London
I am so tired of living in this country. The culture of the natural population had been erroded so far and our children brainwashed to such a degree that I can see no way out.
- Jane, London
The British Police are getting really good at making themselves look stupid.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford
Some of the laws in this country have become stupid beyond belief, especially the 'PC' ones!
- Ben, Bristol
Our police are now nothing more that political correctness enforcers. People are being murdered, beaten and raped almost daily and these baboons waste they time with this rubbish. I'd sack them all. We have 1.5 million unemployed who might like a job in the police - let's sack all police officers and their dimwit managers and replace them with intelligent people who are willing to fight crime.
- Cameron, London
In this part of the world you are lucky if you see a policeman. I was thinking of launching a 'spotacopper' day to compete with 'Birdwatch'.
- Mark, Whitstable UK
Try calling them out when a real crime is happening. Practically useless.
- Steve, London England
Dear oh dear. It's great to see the police have their priorities right, unearthing crimes of political incorrectness here and checking films of speeding cars there.
No wonder they don't have time to deal with hooded teenagers making a nuisance of themselves and bothering ordinary people.
Any copper who doesn't engage his brain first before taking this sort of action should be demoted.
- Brian, Telford
Glad to see our fine boys in blue acting swiftly to stamp out crime from our society...
- Ollie, London
