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Home Office under fire over 'racist' #knifefree chicken boxes

The government initiative to distribute 321,000 chicken boxes with anti-knife crime messaging has drawn accusations of racism.

By Greg Heffer, political reporter

Thursday 15 August 2019 14:20, UK

Image:The Home Office is distributing '#knifefree' chicken boxes

 

 

 

Why you can trust Sky News 

The Home Office has been branded "crude" and "offensive" over an attempt to tackle knife crime with the distribution of #knifefree boxes to chicken shops.

More than 321,000 chicken boxes featuring the Home Office campaign have been sent to more than 210 outlets in England and Wales.

The boxes, which will replace standard packaging in chains such as Morley's, Chicken Cottage and Dixy Chicken, are printed with real life stories of young people who have chosen to no longer carry a knife.

Image:The boxes contain stories of people who have decided to no longer carry a knife

Policing minister Kit Malthouse claimed the boxes will "bring home to thousands of young people the tragic consequences of carrying a knife and challenge the idea that it makes you safer".

"The government is doing everything it can to tackle the senseless violence that is traumatising communities and claiming too many young lives, including bolstering the police's ranks with 20,000 new police officers on our streets," he added.

The Home Office expanded the campaign, aimed at 10 to 21-year-olds from all backgrounds, following "positive feedback" from a trial in 15 Morley's outlets in March.

The department's research shows 67% of chicken shop customers are aged 16 to 24, with participants in focus groups saying fast food outlets are one of their favourite places to meet friends.

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But the initiative has prompted a backlash and drawn accusations of racism.

Adults fear half of children carry a knife for protection

Labour's shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said: "Instead of investing in a public health approach to violent crime, the Home Office have opted for yet another crude, offensive and probably expensive campaign.

"They would do better to invest in our communities not demonise them."

Diane Abbott✔@HackneyAbbott

Instead of investing in a public health approach to violent crime, the Home Office have opted for yet another crude, offensive and probably expensive campaign. They would do better to invest in our communities not demonise them. https://twitter.com/ukhomeoffice/status/1161629920856084481 …

Home Office✔@ukhomeoffice

We are rolling out our #KnifeFree chicken boxes in over 210 chicken shops in England and Wales, including Morley’s, Dixy Chicken and Chicken Cottage. They use real life stories to show people how they can go #KnifeFree.

12.8K

6:31 PM - Aug 14, 2019

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5,303 people are talking about this

Her fellow Labour MP David Lammy told The Guardian: "The Home Office is using taxpayers' money to sponsor an age-old trope.

"Boris Johnson has already called black people 'piccaninnies with watermelon smiles'.

"Now his government is pushing the stereotype that black people love fried chicken.

"This ridiculous stunt is either explicitly racist or, at best, unfathomably stupid.

"I know it might cost a bit more time, effort and money, but I would love it if you would announce a programme of investment in our local communities instead of spending five minutes on a harmful gimmick."

 

https://news.sky.com/story/home-office-under-fire-over-racist-knifefree-chicken-boxes-11785645

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4 minutes ago, TK421 said:

Tell me they sent one to KFC on County Road.

There needs to be actual stabbings happening and not just a bunch of quims on the internet outing each other and failing to turn up. Start a movement by having a threeway showdown with Lifey, Barry and yourself - survivor wins the Summer transfer argument. 

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Just now, Seasons said:

There needs to be actual stabbings happening and not just a bunch of quims on the internet outing each other and failing to turn up. Start a movement by having a threeway showdown with Lifey, Barry and yourself - survivor wins the Summer transfer argument. 

It's on.

 

*swipes forefinger across neck*

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58 minutes ago, Seasons said:

Home Office under fire over 'racist' #knifefree chicken boxes

The government initiative to distribute 321,000 chicken boxes with anti-knife crime messaging has drawn accusations of racism.

By Greg Heffer, political reporter

Thursday 15 August 2019 14:20, UK

Image:The Home Office is distributing '#knifefree' chicken boxes

 

 

 

Why you can trust Sky News 

The Home Office has been branded "crude" and "offensive" over an attempt to tackle knife crime with the distribution of #knifefree boxes to chicken shops.

More than 321,000 chicken boxes featuring the Home Office campaign have been sent to more than 210 outlets in England and Wales.

The boxes, which will replace standard packaging in chains such as Morley's, Chicken Cottage and Dixy Chicken, are printed with real life stories of young people who have chosen to no longer carry a knife.

Image:The boxes contain stories of people who have decided to no longer carry a knife

Policing minister Kit Malthouse claimed the boxes will "bring home to thousands of young people the tragic consequences of carrying a knife and challenge the idea that it makes you safer".

"The government is doing everything it can to tackle the senseless violence that is traumatising communities and claiming too many young lives, including bolstering the police's ranks with 20,000 new police officers on our streets," he added.

The Home Office expanded the campaign, aimed at 10 to 21-year-olds from all backgrounds, following "positive feedback" from a trial in 15 Morley's outlets in March.

The department's research shows 67% of chicken shop customers are aged 16 to 24, with participants in focus groups saying fast food outlets are one of their favourite places to meet friends.

More from Politics

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Teens exposed to highly charged political ads on Facebook and Instagram

Sarah Wollaston: Ex-Conservative MP joins Liberal Democrats

Jeremy Corbyn: Not up to UK parliament to block new Scottish independence referendum

PM's partner Carrie Symonds to give first public speech since entering No 10

Boris Johnson accuses MPs and EU of collaborating to block Brexit

But the initiative has prompted a backlash and drawn accusations of racism.

Adults fear half of children carry a knife for protection

Labour's shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said: "Instead of investing in a public health approach to violent crime, the Home Office have opted for yet another crude, offensive and probably expensive campaign.

"They would do better to invest in our communities not demonise them."

Diane Abbott✔@HackneyAbbott

Instead of investing in a public health approach to violent crime, the Home Office have opted for yet another crude, offensive and probably expensive campaign. They would do better to invest in our communities not demonise them. https://twitter.com/ukhomeoffice/status/1161629920856084481 …

Home Office✔@ukhomeoffice

We are rolling out our #KnifeFree chicken boxes in over 210 chicken shops in England and Wales, including Morley’s, Dixy Chicken and Chicken Cottage. They use real life stories to show people how they can go #KnifeFree.

12.8K

6:31 PM - Aug 14, 2019

Twitter Ads info and privacy

5,303 people are talking about this

Her fellow Labour MP David Lammy told The Guardian: "The Home Office is using taxpayers' money to sponsor an age-old trope.

"Boris Johnson has already called black people 'piccaninnies with watermelon smiles'.

"Now his government is pushing the stereotype that black people love fried chicken.

"This ridiculous stunt is either explicitly racist or, at best, unfathomably stupid.

"I know it might cost a bit more time, effort and money, but I would love it if you would announce a programme of investment in our local communities instead of spending five minutes on a harmful gimmick."

 

https://news.sky.com/story/home-office-under-fire-over-racist-knifefree-chicken-boxes-11785645

Surely you need a knife to cut the chicken before eating it?

 

What next? Boxes with #forkfree on it? When do we get the #beansfree movement?

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It's a difficult one to comment on as the government may well have cohort studies that show correlation between the kids carrying knives and the shops in question.  It's a tough one as releasing details of any such studies would genuinely run the risk of prejudicing people (even if they don't even mention race directly).

 

I'd rather a practical solution be found to reach more of these kids than worry too much about treading softly around mainly-US stereotypes (I go Morleys all the time when staying in London, hardly a monocultural customer base).  

 

Interested to know whether the Mayor's office had a say in this.  If they did, it might have been better for Abbot and Lammy to consult with him before increasing perception of demonisation at the heart of this issue.  Feels dangerous to do so to me.

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1 minute ago, Shooter in the Motor said:

Surely you need a knife to cut the chicken before eating it?

 

What next? Boxes with #forkfree on it? When do we get the #beansfree movement?

Shooter eats fried chicken with a knife and fork...

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It is very distasteful. And to think quite a few people would have had to say their eyes over this to approve and not one person has gone “hang on a minute...” or... maybe they did but aren’t arsed because Jeremy Corbyn is the leader of the anti-Semite brigade because he once’s condemned a gunship shooting dead three Palestinian children on a beach. 

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14 minutes ago, Bjornebye said:

It is very distasteful. And to think quite a few people would have had to say their eyes over this to approve and not one person has gone “hang on a minute...” or... maybe they did but aren’t arsed because Jeremy Corbyn is the leader of the anti-Semite brigade because he once’s condemned a gunship shooting dead three Palestinian children on a beach. 

If the decision was based on evidence and made on the basis that the evidence outweighs cultural association since kids are being killed, would you agree with it? 

 

Of course, you'd hope the evidence also took into account the impact of a potential backlash, some of these kids will only be harder to reach now.

 

Also, not sure about Abbot asking for a population health approach.  PH requires communication with the population, does she just want more of the same, or a multi-faceted approach?

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It's hardly the only part of the strategy. There are adverts across all mediums driving the message.  It's a broad outreach effort.

 

It needs to be backed up with properly funded community and social work, which is what I doubt will happen.  But it's much better (and much less discriminatory) than more authoritarian Tory standards like Stop and Search.

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3 minutes ago, TK421 said:

Okay, what purpose does it serve, why is a serious issue being tackled with fried chicken boxes and do you think this strategy will lead to a reduction in knife crime? 

No, not a fucking chance it'll have the slightest bit of difference on knife crime.

 

It's nothing more than a stupid fucking attempt at a government trying to kid people into thinking they're trying to do something. 

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2 minutes ago, Dougie Do'ins said:

No, not a fucking chance it'll have the slightest bit of difference on knife crime.

 

It's nothing more than a stupid fucking attempt at a government trying to kid people into thinking they're trying to do something. 

But surely they would be aware of the racist connotations.  They must have seen Full Metal Jacket.

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3 minutes ago, TK421 said:

From the same department that brought us the hostile environment and go home wagons. Forgive me if I remain cynical. 

Which comes back to my main question, was the mayor's office involved?  If it was a cross-party effort it would suggest being underpinned by evidence, unlike the other examples you cite (which were far more proactively tory ideological decisions, not reactions to an ongoing crisis).

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