Anonymous |
#2693
5:10 pm
28th May CULT CORNER, p9 - Private Eye No. 1211, 30 May - 12 June 2008.
AFTER City police failed in their attempt to prosecute a 15-year-old boy for holding up a sign reading 'Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult', it's worth recalling the relationship between said cult and Inspector Knacker.
Although there have been similar protests in London, the Met Police have never summonsed sign-carriers under the public order act for using the word 'cult'. However, the protest on 10 May took place within the Square Mile and so came under the jurisdiction of City of London police who felt differently. In the event the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) declined to take the case to court and has issued new guidance on what is considered 'threatening, abusive or insulting' on a demo.
In 2006 City of London police had to order an internal review of hospitality recieved, after it emerged that its officers had accepted thousands of pounds worth of dinners and freebies from the cult, sorry, the Church of Scientology (CoS), including an invitation to a celeb event attended by Tom Cruise. Chief Superintendent Kevin Hurley described the CoS as 'a force for good' when opening its huge new City HQ.
However, the City cops aren't the only ones sucked in by Scientology. Earlier this year several forces were found dishing out anti-drugs leaflets produced by the CoS. As well as advising young people to stay off illegal drugs, the text praised founder L. Ron Hubbard and pushed the organisation's bizarre beliefs about prescription anti-depressants. |
