Goth and Punks Abuse Now a Hate Crime in Manchester
The first paragraph of this story from France 24 says it all:
A British police force on Thursday began recording attacks on goths and punks as “hate crimes” similar to those suffered by people targeted because of their race, religion or sexual orientation.
Police in Manchester, northwest England, said the new policy would allow them to better protect goths, easily identified on the streets by their black clothes and pale make-up, and members of other “alternative sub-cultures”.
“People who wish to express their alternative sub-culture identity freely should not have to tolerate hate crime — something that many people have to endure on a daily basis,” said Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan of Greater Manchester Police.
The change follows the murder in 2007 of 20-year-old goth Sophie Lancaster in a town in northwest England.
