Monday, 15 August 2016

'Pikey' is not an acceptable term



I quote from two sources, and I am certain there are plenty of others:

 
A gardener is thought to have made legal history after being convicted of racially aggravated harassment for using the word ‘pikey’.  (Metro


Since 2007 it has been an arrestable, racially aggravated offence to use the word "pikey", which is an offensive and derogatory word used to refer to Irish or Romany travellers. (Guardian 13 December 2013

Some people, it seems, find it acceptable to still use this term. Included in their number are two of Southend-on-Sea's Borough Councillors. I shall refrain from naming them, although I will state that they are not in the Labour Group.

They compounded their error by emailing every one of the fifty-one councillors with this term.

This was what was written: I have had a few reports of pikies in Belfairs park

Notwithstanding the spelling it is quite clear, and quite offensive.

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