Risk of fine for having offensive slogan on your t-shirt.

Posted by Ban Shirts

August 17, 2007

The BBC reported today (8/13/07) on how offensive slogans on t-shirts are treated in the UK. Recently in Peterborough, David Pratt was threatened with an £80 fine for wearing a t-shirt with the phrase: “Don’t piss me off! I am running out of places to hide the bodies.”. The council informed David that if he wore the shirt again he would be fined on the spot by any police office. The council’s concern was that the t-shirt could offend someone or incite violence. The issue is largely that of interpretation because one shirt is funny or witty might be found offensive or insulting to another. In England and Wales using offensive or insulting language is a CRIME! Under Section 5 of the Public Order Act you can not use offensive or insulting language verbally or printed on a shirt. In Scotland wearing an offensive shirt is considered a “breach of peace”. In another story, a storeowner was told to remove a t-shirt from his shop window because it was offensive. It was a toddler’s shirt that said: “Winner of the egg and sperm race.” You can read more about offensive and banned t-shirts in the UK

Banned T-Shirts