Suspect to appear in court after extreme racial hatred posted online

A Mansfield man is set to appear in court after extreme racial hatred was posted on social media.

Officers were made aware on Saturday (10 August) of racist posts and videos being shared on Facebook as well as posts inciting racial hatred and disorder.

Following quick investigative work, John England, aged 45, of Big Barn Lane, Mansfield, was arrested yesterday morning (Sunday 11 August) on suspicion of using threatening abusive, insulting words, behaviour with intent or likely to stir up racial hatred.

England has now been charged with publishing and distributing written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting, intending thereby to stir up racial hatred, or where having regard to all the circumstances, racial hatred is likely to be stirred up thereby, contrary to section 19(10 of the Public Order Act 1986.

He’s been remanded into custody and will appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court today (Monday 12 August).

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Lefford, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:“I hope this sends out a strong message to anyone sharing racist abuse or inciting racial hatred on social media that we will act as shown in this case, and you will be charged and put in front of the courts.

“There is no place in Nottinghamshire for hate, racism, or discrimination.

“We’re here to keep the communities we serve safe and we will always take any reports of this nature extremely seriously.

“We have said consistently that we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour. We said that we would take immediate and robust action and that’s exactly what we have done here.”

If you have any concerns or information about public disorder in your area, or hate crimes, please call us on 101, or use our Live Chat function on our website.

If you would like to remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.