Insults Are NOT Hate Crimes, Insists Nick Ferrari
26 July 2016, 10:46 | Updated: 1 September 2016, 12:52
Nick Ferrari has dismissed the "absurd" plan to classify insults as seriously as an attack on a mosque.
New Home Secretary Amber Rudd is launching a new hate crime policying review following a spike in incidents since the EU referendum last month.
John Azah, a member of the Met Police's Independent Advisory Group, told him that a verbal assault is a hate crime in the same way as a physical assault.
But Nick labelled it absurd, as he said: "Are you saying that sort of verbal offence is on the same level as, I don't know, attacking someone because of the colour of their skin, smashing the windows of a synogogue?
"You're saying it's on the same level?"
Mr Azah insisted: "If it's perceived by the victim, then it is" to which Nick responded, "That's absolutely absurd. How on earth can you quantify that?
"As you probably know from my last name, I have Italian-Swiss origin. I was called an eyetie at school on a regular basis. It doesn't bother me, it's not a hate crime.
"You're honestly telling me that's the same as smashing the windows of a synogogue?"
Mr Azah said: "It's dependent on perception, isn't it?"
To which Nick responded: "Absolutely. So you now want the Met to chase around because I'm called an eyetie at school?
"Dear God, don't you think they've got enough to do?"
