news that matters, campaigns that count

for Birmingham, the Black Country and beyond

“BARRY NORMAN” COP SHOULD BE DISCIPLINED

05-11-2009

A Birmingham councillor has called for disciplinary action against the unnamed police officer (PC Barry Norman, perhaps?) who apparently “warned off” local cinemas from showing the gangster movie One Day which opens this weekend.

The issue was raised at this week’s Council meeting by Cllr Matt Bennett (Stockland Green), after it emerged that the Odeon New Street (among others) isn’t showing the Screen WM-funded “hip hop musical”.

We questioned on Saturday whether the officer concerned had been in uniform, and what intelligence (if any) he had that the film might exacerbate tensions.

Cllr Bennett took up the baton in the Council chamber on Tuesday, saying, “When I asked [West Midlands Police Chief Constable] Chris Sims I didn’t really get a satisfactory answer.

“The fact is that if I went round to the cinemas in my capacity as a councillor telling them not to show a film, I would quite rightly be condemned. The same should be true for a police officer”.

Assistant Chief Constable Suzette Davenport who slated One Day's language and "negative stereotyping" in a youtube video was also criticised by Bennett, who commented, “If she wants to review films, she should write to a newspaper and ask them to give her a column.”

A force spokesman said: "West Midlands Police have no intention of disciplining the officer involved.

"He was acting in his capacity as a crime prevention officer and offered a view about the film with the best of intentions and with the safety of the community he serves uppermost in his mind.

"The view he expressed was a personal one and not that of West Midlands Police, which is that we have no power to ban or censor a public screening of a film nor would we wish to do so.

"The crime prevention officer’s role is a unformed one to increase visibility in his neighbourhood so it is likely he was wearing uniform "

The Stirrer revealed this week that One Day will be shown at the Empire Rubery, Showcase cinemas across the region and (later this month) at Wolverhampton’s Lighthouse Cinema.

DISCUSS THIS ON THE STIRRER FORUM