This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/03/katie-hopkins-accused-offensive-remarks-pakistanis-child-abuse-rochdale

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Katie Hopkins accused by police chief over remarks about Pakistanis Katie Hopkins accused by police chief over remarks about Pakistanis
(about 1 hour later)
Katie Hopkins, the Sun columnist being investigated over claims that she has broken race hate laws, has been accused by a police commissioner of seeking to target the Pakistani community with “ill-informed and offensive” comments.Katie Hopkins, the Sun columnist being investigated over claims that she has broken race hate laws, has been accused by a police commissioner of seeking to target the Pakistani community with “ill-informed and offensive” comments.
Tony Lloyd, who oversees crime policy in Greater Manchester, intervened after police began a formal inquiry into claims first reported in the Guardian that the reality television star has equated men of Pakistani origin with child abusers. Tony Lloyd, who oversees crime policy in Greater Manchester, intervened after police began a formal inquiry into claims first reported in the Guardian that the reality television star had equated men of Pakistani origin with child abusers.
It follows a prolonged row between Hopkins and the Rochdale MP, Simon Danczuk, over his decision to attend the raising of a Pakistani flag over the local town hall to mark National Pakistan Day on 23 March.It follows a prolonged row between Hopkins and the Rochdale MP, Simon Danczuk, over his decision to attend the raising of a Pakistani flag over the local town hall to mark National Pakistan Day on 23 March.
The businesswoman, who has more than 500,000 Twitter followers, tweeted that it was outrageous to raise the Pakistani flag in Rochdale. In 2012, nine men from the Lancashire town, eight of whom were of Pakistani origin, were jailed for their part in a child sexual exploitation ring.The businesswoman, who has more than 500,000 Twitter followers, tweeted that it was outrageous to raise the Pakistani flag in Rochdale. In 2012, nine men from the Lancashire town, eight of whom were of Pakistani origin, were jailed for their part in a child sexual exploitation ring.
What are you playing at @SimonDanczuk? Raising the Pakistani flag in Rochdale? https://t.co/xa8u2RtRVL I'd rather raise a kid called TylerWhat are you playing at @SimonDanczuk? Raising the Pakistani flag in Rochdale? https://t.co/xa8u2RtRVL I'd rather raise a kid called Tyler
The development comes amid growing concerns about community cohesion in Rochdale. On Thursday, nine people who are believed to be from Rochdale and of Pakistani origin were stopped attempting to cross the border into Syria. The development comes amid growing concerns about community cohesion in Rochdale. On Thursday, nine people who are believed to be from Rochdale and of Pakistani origin were stopped while attempting to cross the border into Syria.
In an email released to the Guardian, Lloyd wrote: “Katie Hopkins’s comments are ridiculous, seeking to target the entire Pakistani community here in Greater Manchester. The comments on Twitter and in her column are ill-informed and offensive.”In an email released to the Guardian, Lloyd wrote: “Katie Hopkins’s comments are ridiculous, seeking to target the entire Pakistani community here in Greater Manchester. The comments on Twitter and in her column are ill-informed and offensive.”
Referring to an interview in the Guardian with the father of a victim of grooming who criticised Hopkins, Lloyd, a former Labour MP, added: “As the father of one of the victims in the Rochdale grooming case has rightly pointed out, using victims in this way to aid someone’s career is exploitative. Tarring an entire community with the label of child abuser is obviously both stupid and offensive.”Referring to an interview in the Guardian with the father of a victim of grooming who criticised Hopkins, Lloyd, a former Labour MP, added: “As the father of one of the victims in the Rochdale grooming case has rightly pointed out, using victims in this way to aid someone’s career is exploitative. Tarring an entire community with the label of child abuser is obviously both stupid and offensive.”
The flag was raised over Rochdale town hall for less than half an hour, according to Danczuk’s aide. Afterwards, the MP posted a photo of himself on Twitter with two men of Pakistani origin at the ceremony.The flag was raised over Rochdale town hall for less than half an hour, according to Danczuk’s aide. Afterwards, the MP posted a photo of himself on Twitter with two men of Pakistani origin at the ceremony.
This infuriated Hopkins, who replied with a photograph of eight of the men convicted for offences connected to child exploitation. Above the image, she wrote: “Are these your friends too ‪@SimonDanczuk? Is this why you are raising the Pakistani flag in Rochdale? 77 years inside.”This infuriated Hopkins, who replied with a photograph of eight of the men convicted for offences connected to child exploitation. Above the image, she wrote: “Are these your friends too ‪@SimonDanczuk? Is this why you are raising the Pakistani flag in Rochdale? 77 years inside.”
Another post, which Danczuk has reported to the police, said: “Your Pakistani friends saw young white girls as fair game when they abused them. Do NOT lecture me on community cohesion fool.” A further tweet said: “Raising a Pakistani flag in Rochdale is not helping community cohesion. it is inflammatory. ‪@SimonDanczuk you & your party disgust me.”Another post, which Danczuk has reported to the police, said: “Your Pakistani friends saw young white girls as fair game when they abused them. Do NOT lecture me on community cohesion fool.” A further tweet said: “Raising a Pakistani flag in Rochdale is not helping community cohesion. it is inflammatory. ‪@SimonDanczuk you & your party disgust me.”
Detectives from Greater Manchester police interviewed Danczuk last week. On Thursday, he gave them a formal statement, it is understood.Detectives from Greater Manchester police interviewed Danczuk last week. On Thursday, he gave them a formal statement, it is understood.
Police in Scotland confirmed on Thursday that they are still investigating complaints they received in December concerning Hopkins’s tweets about Pauline Cafferkey, a Scottish aid worker who was diagnosed with Ebola after returning to the UK from Sierra Leone. She had written: “Little sweaty jocks, sending us Ebola bombs in the form of sweaty Glaswegians just isn’t cricket. Scottish NHS sucks.” Police in Scotland confirmed on Thursday that they were still investigating complaints they received in December concerning Hopkins’s tweets about Pauline Cafferkey, a Scottish aid worker who was diagnosed with Ebola after returning to the UK from Sierra Leone. She had written: “Little sweaty jocks, sending us Ebola bombs in the form of sweaty Glaswegians just isn’t cricket. Scottish NHS sucks.”
Since the row began, Danczuk claims to have received threats and a petition has been launched calling for the flag to be taken down. One English Defence League splinter group, which describes itself as the North West Infidels, has asked members to hold a rally in the town on 9 May.Since the row began, Danczuk claims to have received threats and a petition has been launched calling for the flag to be taken down. One English Defence League splinter group, which describes itself as the North West Infidels, has asked members to hold a rally in the town on 9 May.
The father of the main prosecution witness in the child sex grooming scandal has accused Hopkins of stoking racial divisions for her own purposes. The man, known as Tom, told the Guardian last weekend: “Abuse is about criminality, not the nationality of these people. I think it’s abhorrent to link the flag of Pakistan with child abuse. I can’t understand why she has been allowed to get away with these comments.”The father of the main prosecution witness in the child sex grooming scandal has accused Hopkins of stoking racial divisions for her own purposes. The man, known as Tom, told the Guardian last weekend: “Abuse is about criminality, not the nationality of these people. I think it’s abhorrent to link the flag of Pakistan with child abuse. I can’t understand why she has been allowed to get away with these comments.”
Hopkins this week claimed Danczuk was wasting police time and that he was involved in the flag-raising ceremony to shore up votes as he seeks re-election.She did not respond to a request for a comment on Friday morning. Hopkins claimed this week that Danczuk was wasting police time and that he was involved in the flag-raising ceremony to shore up votes as he sought re-election.She did not respond to a request for a comment on Friday morning.