Top Cheshire cop taking flak again

A top Cheshire police officer has been criticised for posting a ‘ridiculous’ video on Twitter highlighting ‘International Pronouns Day’.

Deputy chief constable, Julie Cooke, told her 2,231 followers that the day was important to anyone who identifies as transgender or ‘gender non-conforming’ because ‘being mis-gendered can have a huge impact on somebody and their personal wellbeing’.

She added: ‘It also can be used as a form of abuse and that just isn’t right. Today is about raising awareness getting people to have conversations and understanding why it’s so important to understand the pronouns that somebody wishes to be used for them.’

The video, viewed nearly a million times, attracted a strong reaction online – with more than 6,000 commenting, mostly criticising Ms Cooke.

Critics branded the message, posted on Wednesday, ‘bonkers, ridiculous and a joke’.

They questioned why police were ‘wasting time’ over such ‘nonsense’ and suggested they should instead be out pursuing criminals.

Feminist and author Julie Bindel asked: ‘Why are you wasting time on this? Shouldn’t you be detecting crime and catching criminals?’

Meanwhile Norman Brennan, a retired police officer and justice campaigner, told the deputy chief constable: ‘Julie, listening to you it’s clear the lunatics have taken over the asylum…

‘What the b***** hell are you talking about? With people like you at the top I truly despair of the future of policing.’

While businessman Nick Mitchell said: ‘Part of my business taxes pay for Cheshire Police. I support your difficult job – this is beyond embarrassing.

‘How can you not see you are losing the general public with this ridiculous virtue signalling nonsense? Catch criminals, hurty words are for children and their teachers!’

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7586499/Police-chief-posted-Pronouns-Day-video-slammed-wasting-time.html#v-2946529712142831060

Trans woman Kristina Harrison tweeted: ‘I’m trans, why are policing wasting resources and interfering in a political/social matter?’

International Pronouns Day is a global event which aims to raise awareness and encourage respect for the third person pronouns, such as he, she or they, that people use for themselves.

It is particularly significant for those who are transgender or gender nonconforming because using the incorrect pronoun can be deemed upsetting, offensive or even abusive.

Transgender groups believe using the correct pronouns is a critical step in acknowledging the humanity of trans and gender non-conforming people. 

In August, Ms Cooke was derided for her decision to repurpose some of Cheshire’s Police vehicles as “hate crime cars” – suggesting the cars, called “clown cars” by many observers, are meant to encouragement people to report hate crimes.

Deputy Chief Constable Julie Cooke said in an Instagram post that the cars were meant to give “confidence to underrepresented groups.”

Cheshire residents have just one more week to air their views on the cost and performance: http://www.ilovemacc.com/2021/11/29/last-chance-to-approve-or-decline-police-precept-increase/