Recently Andrew Coates reported that police in Wiltshire had requested a list of those buying Charlie Hebdo from a newsagents. An isolated incident, followed by an apology/explanation, is one thing, but according to this latest report in the Guardian several police forces have been making similar enquiries.
The case in Corsham, Wiltshire, was thought to be an isolated incident but it has since emerged that Cheshire constabulary and Dyfed-Powys police have also approached newsagents over the sale of Charlie Hebdo.
In at least two cases – in Wiltshire and in Presteigne, Wales – officers have requested that newsagents hand over the names of customers who bought the magazine.
“This is so ridiculous as to be almost laughable. And it would be funny if it didn’t reflect a more general worrying increase in abuse of police powers in invading privacy and stifling free speech in Britain,” said Jodie Ginsberg, chief executive of free expression campaign group Index on Censorship.
The question in the title is a genuine one – I don’t see why the police think it would be useful to have this information.
