Do not use terms such as ‘black sheep’ and ‘blacklist’, advises guide for UK police
British police officers are being urged to refrain from using specific common phrases due to worries about possible racial insensitivity. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
British police have been advised to refrain from using certain expressions such as “black sheep” and “blacklisted” due to concerns about their potential racial insensitivity. This guidance is part of a nine-page diversity, equity, and inclusion document that was circulated to various police forces and reported by British media over the weekend.
Critics have labeled this initiative as a manifestation of excessive "woke" culture encroaching on public institutions.
The guide, which was distributed to Bedfordshire Police, Hertfordshire Constabulary, and Cambridgeshire Constabulary, cautions that phrases like “black sheep” and “blacklist” could be deemed offensive due to the negative connotations associated with the word “black.” Other suggestions include substituting “pregnant woman” with “pregnant person” to promote inclusivity for transgender and non-binary individuals.
Furthermore, the document advises against using the term “faith,” calling it “Christian-centric,” and encourages the use of neutral terminology that acknowledges a variety of belief systems. It also takes a broader view of gender, defining it as a “social construct” that includes a range of identities beyond the traditional male-female dichotomy.
The guidance also minimizes assumptions about older individuals being “grumpy” and discourages linking menopausal symptoms specifically to women in their 50s. Additionally, the term “mature adult” is highlighted for possibly implying that younger people are immature.
A spokesperson from the three police forces stated that “our forces serve diverse communities, and we are pleased to have an inclusive, culturally intelligent workforce, and invest in training to develop this ethos across our workforce.” This representative stressed that the guidance aims to help officers recognize differences within communities and ensure respectful treatment of individuals.
Some critics argue that prioritizing language over substantive issues trivializes significant concerns. “Policing should be about tackling crime and keeping people safe, not enforcing language codes that make no tangible difference to community relations,” a former officer remarked to The Telegraph.
Festus Akinbusoye, the UK’s first black police and crime commissioner, described the guidance as “utterly mad.” He questioned the consistency of the recommendations, asking why terms like “whitewashing” were not included if phrases such as “blacklisted” were considered problematic. “Was this to have been brought to my attention while serving as Police and Crime Commissioner, I would have asked questions as to the necessity and limited inclusivity of this inclusion document,” Akinbusoye added.
“I think it is utter madness that in all the years we have seen the harms that this woke ideology has done, that this is being sent to police officers,” James Esses, a campaigner and psychotherapist, stated in objection to the recommendations. He claimed that terms like “black sheep” and “blacklisted” do not have racist roots but rather historical associations with darkness or death.
In 2024, U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA, reportedly suggested avoiding the term “blacklisted” for similar reasons.
Moreover, in 2022, UK police were instructed to employ “gender-neutral” forms of address instead of using ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am’, as referenced in training materials obtained by the Daily Mail on Sunday. The political upper chamber was also cautioned against using potentially offensive phrases such as ‘man-made’, ‘the common man’, and ‘manpower’, according to an ‘Inclusive Language Guide’ obtained by the same source.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
Critics have labeled this initiative as a manifestation of excessive "woke" culture encroaching on public institutions.
The guide, which was distributed to Bedfordshire Police, Hertfordshire Constabulary, and Cambridgeshire Constabulary, cautions that phrases like “black sheep” and “blacklist” could be deemed offensive due to the negative connotations associated with the word “black.” Other suggestions include substituting “pregnant woman” with “pregnant person” to promote inclusivity for transgender and non-binary individuals.
Furthermore, the document advises against using the term “faith,” calling it “Christian-centric,” and encourages the use of neutral terminology that acknowledges a variety of belief systems. It also takes a broader view of gender, defining it as a “social construct” that includes a range of identities beyond the traditional male-female dichotomy.
The guidance also minimizes assumptions about older individuals being “grumpy” and discourages linking menopausal symptoms specifically to women in their 50s. Additionally, the term “mature adult” is highlighted for possibly implying that younger people are immature.
A spokesperson from the three police forces stated that “our forces serve diverse communities, and we are pleased to have an inclusive, culturally intelligent workforce, and invest in training to develop this ethos across our workforce.” This representative stressed that the guidance aims to help officers recognize differences within communities and ensure respectful treatment of individuals.
Some critics argue that prioritizing language over substantive issues trivializes significant concerns. “Policing should be about tackling crime and keeping people safe, not enforcing language codes that make no tangible difference to community relations,” a former officer remarked to The Telegraph.
Festus Akinbusoye, the UK’s first black police and crime commissioner, described the guidance as “utterly mad.” He questioned the consistency of the recommendations, asking why terms like “whitewashing” were not included if phrases such as “blacklisted” were considered problematic. “Was this to have been brought to my attention while serving as Police and Crime Commissioner, I would have asked questions as to the necessity and limited inclusivity of this inclusion document,” Akinbusoye added.
“I think it is utter madness that in all the years we have seen the harms that this woke ideology has done, that this is being sent to police officers,” James Esses, a campaigner and psychotherapist, stated in objection to the recommendations. He claimed that terms like “black sheep” and “blacklisted” do not have racist roots but rather historical associations with darkness or death.
In 2024, U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA, reportedly suggested avoiding the term “blacklisted” for similar reasons.
Moreover, in 2022, UK police were instructed to employ “gender-neutral” forms of address instead of using ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am’, as referenced in training materials obtained by the Daily Mail on Sunday. The political upper chamber was also cautioned against using potentially offensive phrases such as ‘man-made’, ‘the common man’, and ‘manpower’, according to an ‘Inclusive Language Guide’ obtained by the same source.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
