CW police, racism With reference to the two guys arrested in Philly the other night for sitting at a table in Starbucks. This is from the BBC's "Not the Nine O'Clock News", S02E02, aired 1980. The SPG was a department of Scotland Yard, who infamously went around stirring up trouble. The hedgehog mention at the end was a running joke. "Public convenience" is a public toilet. O = senior police officer, Rowan Atkinson S = Constable Savage, Griff Rhys-Jones O: Come in, shut the door. Now then, Savage, I want to talk to you about some charges that you have been bringing in lately. I think that perhaps you’re being a little overzealous. S: Which charges do you mean then, sir? O: Well, for instance, this one: "loitering with intent to use a pedestrian crossing". Savage, maybe you’re not aware of this, but it is not illegal to use a pedestrian crossing. Neither is "smelling of foreign food" an offence. S: You’re sure, sir? O: Also there is no law against "urinating in a public convenience" or "coughing without due care and attention". S: If you say so, sir. O: Yes, I do say so, Savage! Didn’t they teach you anything at training school? S: I’m sorry, sir. O: Some of these cases are plain stupid: "looking at me in a funny way"… is this some kind of joke, Savage? S: No, sir. O: And we have some more here: "walking on the cracks in the pavement"... "walking in a loud shirt in a built-up area during the hours of darkness"... and "walking around with an offensive wife". In short, Savage, in the space of one month you’ve brought 117 ridiculous, trumped-up, and ludicrous charges. S: Yes, sir. O: Against the same man, Savage. S: Yes, sir. O: A Mr Winston Cudoogo of 55 Mercer Road. S: Yes, sir. O: Sit down, Savage. S: Yes, sir. O: Savage, why do you keep arresting this man? S: He’s a villain, sir. O: A villain… S: And a jailbird. O: I know he’s a jailbird, Savage. He's down in the cells now. We are holding him on a charge of "possession of curly black hair and thick lips". S: Well, there you are, sir. O: *You* arrested him, Savage! S: Thank you, sir. O: Savage, would I be correct in assuming that Mr Cudoogo is a coloured gentleman? S: Well, I can’t say I’ve ever noticed, sir. O: Savage, you’re a bigot. It’s officers like you that give the police a bad name. The press love to jump on instances like that and the reputation of our force can be permanently tarnished. Your whole time on duty is dominated by racial hatred and petty personal vendettas. Do you get some kind of perverted gratification from going around stirring up trouble? S: Yes, sir. O: There’s no room for men like you in my force, Savage. I’m transferring you to the SPG. Get out! S: Thank you, sir.
