Braverman slams police for sending 6 officers to seize golliwog dolls

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has slammed police for sending six officers to seize a collection of golliwog dolls. Six members of Essex Police were sent to a pub in Grays, Essex where 15 dolls were seized following an anonymous complaint. The Home Office branded the incident “nonsense” before criticising the force, saying they should be focusing on more serious crimes.

The dolls, displayed in the pub as gifts from customers, were seized under suspected ‘hate crime’ 

The officers were captured on CCTV seizing the dolls, and placing them into an evidence bag. 

Responding to the incident a Home Office source said: “The Home Secretary’s views have now been made very plain to Essex Police so they’re under no illusions.

“Police forces should not be getting involved in this kind of nonsense. It’s about tackling anti-social behaviour, stopping violence against women and girls, attending burglaries and catching criminals – not seizing dolls.”

Landlord Bernice Ryley was quizzed by the officers over the dolls.

Speaking to Thurrock Nub News she said a visitor made a complaint after being “quite upset” about the dolls.

Ms Ryley and her husband Chris have run the pub for 17 years.

Ms Ryley added: “Chris is away abroad and will be until the middle of May.

“Police said as he is the licensee they need to interview him and they have taken the dolls away in the interim.”

This isn’t the first time the dolls have received complaints.

In 2018 the couple refused to remove them after the local authority received a complaint.

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Ms Ryley added: “I don’t understand why we have to go through all this again.”

She continued: “I understand that some people may not like them and they are entitled to that view, but they don’t have to come into the pub.

“As far as we are aware we are not breaking any laws by displaying them, and that was proved last time when we were investigated.

“If we were not breaking the law then, why are we breaking the law now?

“It took six officers to come and remove a shelf full of dollies. What a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“When the police officers came, I pointed to the dolls and said ‘they haven’t done anything.'”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We are investigating an allegation of hate crime reported to us on 24 February. On Tuesday, 4 April, officers seized several items in connection with that investigation.

“The investigation is ongoing so we will not be commenting further at this stage.

“The force is proud of the work we do to prevent crime, tackle offenders and build trust and confidence in all communities.”

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