Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Ben Adams has warned against the sharing of online conspiracy theories and misinformation on social media.
The warning comes after a protest of around 150 people took place in Cannock. It followed Staffordshire Police issuing a statement condemning ‘unsubstantiated’ claims that asylum seekers are following girls in Cannock.
In a recent meeting at Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel, Commissioner Ben Adams said:
“Protests that we were expecting have been cancelled, and I am pleased actually that some of the individuals involved saw what happened in Liverpool, but very similar motivated and revved up by some parties that have got particular interests, some right-wing interests in triggering violence.
“Nobody is doing anyone any favours with those types of protests, and I think the more we can get messages out … people know they can’t believe everything they read, and quite frankly they shouldn’t.”
He also touched on the recent wave of social media speculation around the case of missing mum Nicola Bulley, from Lancashire, whose body was recovered from the River Wire last Sunday.
He added:
“Always ask what is the motivation of some people in spreading this stuff. You know there’s not an awful lot of positive stuff to come out of the terrible incident with Mrs Bulley, but if anything I hope people will wake up to the fact that your own personal conspiracy theories or desire to promote stuff on Tik Tok and Instagram and all the rest of it is just not helpful.”
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8 comments
Telkom University
What are the potential dangers of spreading conspiracy theories, according to the commissioner?
P Bradbury
The commissioner should ask himself his question. Why do Albanian males risk their lives and spend £5000 to cross the channel in small inflatables when they could still simply board a Wizzair plane in Tirana and get to the UK for less than £100. When get a sensible answer to that question I might take his utterances seriously.
Julian Adair
This man needs to man up and stop pandering to his government puppet masters, stand up and defend the people of your county. These ‘illegal INVADERS’ are a very serious threat to the security of our country and you have a responsibility to protect British citizens. I hope you can face up to a father who’s daughter gets raped by one of them !!!
Paul Foulger
Can the police commissioner please enlighten us as to why every one of those economic migrants have not been arrested for entering the country ILLEGALY and with no documentation. It’s all well and good him saying these things but we are being kept in the dark about the reasoning of the government behind them actually breaking the law of the land which I might add they have sworn to uphold. If there is a reason why not explain in plain English not some gobbledygook political speak. I was at the demonstration in Cannock and yes there were 9 political alternative people there the other 400 were just citizens of Cannock concerned about there children. Could he also explain why the people opposite were made up of people bussed in from god knows where amongst them were members of antifa who I believe are just looking for a fight and should be classed as an extreme left wing terrorist group and could he also explain why the communist unions were there waving their banners. Would it also be too much to ask why are the government paying out vast sums of money to keep these people in nice warm hotels 3 meals a day acess to doctors, dentists and all other NHS services without paying a penny in when we have our own homeless people, you have to wait 2 weeks to see a doctor, old age pensioners are scared to switch on the heating struggling to buy food, veterans are committing suicide at a vast rate, human rights lawyers are making a killing, maybe just maybe he could see it from our point of view though I won’t be holding my breath.
Liana
thanks for info
Tom Anderson
As a police commissioner have you no concerns that a vast number of single males, that we have no information on are entering the country and being housed in substantial numbers In hotels?
We don’t know their background
dor history or even their real name. I don’t think all protestors should be branded right wing
More like concerned citizens with concerns that 6 BILION A YEAR of taxpayers money is spent on them
Dawn
Very well said. Using the derogatory over used meaningless term “conspiracy theorist” is a silencing tool, initially coined by the CIA to stop people questioning the controlled narrative. I’ve worked in safeguarding and know how much of a potential risk these men cause.
GH
100%