Five police officers seized 15 dolls.
Five police officers seized 15 dolls.
Five policemen were dispatched to one English pub to collect ‘golliwog’ dolls. The pub owners are suspected of committing a hate crime by displaying black dolls to the public. Golliwog is the name given to a small black-faced rag doll that first appeared in a series of children’s books written and illustrated by Florence and Bertha Upton around 1895. The Australian Golliwog first appeared over 100 years ago in Florence Kate Upton’s children’s book and was later adopted as a trademark by jam manufacturer James Robertson & Sons in 1910. as Damali Ayo and Kara Walker. The actions of the police were criticized by Justice Minister Suella Braverman: ‘Police forces should not be getting involved in this kind of nonsense. It’s about tackling anti-social behaviour, stopping violence against women and girls, attending burglaries and catching criminals – not seizing dolls.’
The controversial issue of the golliwog dolls has resurfaced in the UK after police confiscated two from a pub in Yorkshire. The dolls, which are considered by many to be a racist caricature of black people, were seized by officers under the guise of a non-crime hate incident. The incident has sparked outrage among those who believe in freedom of speech and expression.
The College of Policing recently issued updated guidance stating that non-crime hate incidents should not be recorded where there is no basis to conclude that an incident was motivated by hostility. The guidance also emphasised that freedom of speech should be prioritised wherever possible. However, the incident in the pub raises questions about the implementation of this guidance.
The golliwog figure was created by American-British cartoonist and author Florence Kate Upton in the 19th century and became popular in Britain in the 1970s. However, it came to be considered a racist caricature of black people, and the first known example of the dolls being seized by British police was in 2007.
The pub owner, Mrs Ryley, 61, was told that the couple who brought the dolls into the pub are unlikely to get them back until her husband Chris, 65, returns from Turkey in May and is questioned too. Mrs Ryley plans to put up a warning sign about the golliwogs and restore more of the dolls to the shelf once it is ready.
The incident has generated significant public interest, with many people expressing support for Mrs Ryley’s decision to display the dolls. Some have even called for a campaign to “save the gollies,” arguing that the dolls are a part of British history and culture.
However, others have criticised the dolls’ display, arguing that they are deeply offensive to black people and have no place in modern society. They see the police’s actions as a necessary response to a non-crime hate incident.
The controversy highlights the ongoing debate in the UK about freedom of speech and expression, and the balance between individual rights and the need to protect vulnerable groups from discrimination and prejudice. It remains to be seen how the guidance issued by the College of Policing will be interpreted and enforced in practice, and whether incidents like this will continue to generate controversy and public debate.
Essex Police said: ‘We are investigating an allegation of hate crime reported to us on 24 February. On Tuesday, 4 April, officers seized several items in connection with that investigation.
‘The investigation is ongoing so we will not be commenting further at this stage.
‘The force is proud of the work we do to prevent crime, tackle offenders and build trust and confidence in all communities.’
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