Offensive T-shirts are removed from Bath shop window
A fashion chain has been forced to take items of clothing off its shelves after claims they were offensive.
Route One in Little SouthGate removed T-shirts from its window display and has stopped selling them indefinitely after a father-of-two complained about the slogans printed on them – prompting a visit from the police.
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The Route One shop in Little Southgate
The store stocks accessories for skateboarding, snowboarding and BMX riders, as well as T-shirts with humorous messages and pictures.
However, a range of T-shirts designed for Christmas, which carried phrases such as ‘Merry Christmas Motherf*****’ and ‘Christmas is Gay’, have been removed.
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Daniel Tobias, 45, from Bath, was shopping with his seven-year-old son when he spotted the T-shirts.
He said: “The T-shirts can only be described as highly offensive and it’s opposite a toyshop.”
Mr Tobias, who is also a secondary school teacher, added: “For a young child to visit a toyshop then turn round and see those words in big black letters and ask what it means just shows how inappropriate it is.”
Mr Tobias rang the police, Bath and North East Somerset Council and the company to lodge a complaint.
Managing director for the Route One chain, Richard Boissevain, said the company apologised for any offence caused by the T-shirts.
He said: “The T-shirts have been taken from the window and actually taken off sale – whether they are sold again is under review.
“We don’t want to cause offence to anyone. We have never desired to cause offence to any customer or member of the public.”
Mr Boissevain added that the company had only received one complaint from a member of the public before removing the T-shirts.
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said the T-shirts may have been considered in breach of public order laws and confirmed officers had visited the store to advise staff that the clothing should be removed from the window.
Comments
by Jenna_Talwart
Sunday, January 20 2013, 5:43PM
“It's just a swear word that they are just as likely to hear on the bus to the shops, or in the shops, or in the playground (yes, kids swear...although not in front of adults naturally).
It's a shame that people get so offended by such unimportant things....but what's more of a shame is that their bleating is taken seriously. Being offended is not a police matter....they really have better things to deal with, especially as resources are stretched.”
by PWBath
Thursday, December 27 2012, 3:08AM
“Sense of humour failure by over protective Dad who thinks the world revolves around his little darling and one more victory for the 'Cult of the Child'.”
by mcupis
Wednesday, December 26 2012, 12:49PM
“When is French Connection being raided by the Police?”
by a1rhella1r
Wednesday, December 26 2012, 9:04AM
“To those who think lightly of this offensive display, it is sad that you cannot recognize standards of propriety, which is why society's social etiquette is trending to declination....."
In my opinion, none of this is happening. Society is changing. That's how it is. You just have to remind yourself that those who upheld 'high standards of propriety' in previous generations also started 2 world wars, turned a blind eye to child abuse and perpetuated gender and other inequalities. So in my book, previous generations have a lot to be ashamed about.
Agree that placing this t-shirt in the window where it maybe seen by children wasn't a good idea. However, the shop remedied that and apologised, so good for them. Getting the police involved smacks of 'busybodyness'. As rogerh3 says, this was on private property; I can't see how it would be a public order offence.
Anyway, here's a F-word, M-word and C-word. Hope you all had a Fabulous, Merry Christmas!”
by rogerh3
Tuesday, December 25 2012, 1:15PM
“And despite the failure of that prosecution the word is still censored by this newspaper.”
by rogerh3
Tuesday, December 25 2012, 1:10PM
“Route One appear to think they are above the law when it comes to potential public order offences - and perhaps it took a visit from the police to remind them."
They don't appear to be anything of the sort. They responded to a solitary complaint and even issued an apology but that's their choice. There's no way there would be a prosecution for a public order offence for something so trivial (and on private property). Amazing that this can receive so much attention over 30 years after the failed prosecution of the Sex Pistols for their 'Never Mind the ********...' LP cover.
.”
by kranbook
Monday, December 24 2012, 7:54PM
“I walked passed this window display with my young daughter and was disgusted at the inappropriate merchandise.
To those who think lightly of this offensive display, it is sad that you cannot recognize standards of propriety, which is why society's social etiquette is trending to declination.
To *wheelie_bin* with a most vehement critical appraisal, if only there are many with the same attitude, our younger generation's standards would not be in such dire straits.
To *battybowy87*, I surmise you are still a young 25 years old, I wish you much prosperity in the future, be a good mother to many children who in turn believe it is proper for you to be ****ed.”
by BV_BV
Monday, December 24 2012, 7:44PM
“Even the Flintstones had a gay old time. Perhaps in Gay Paris.”
by BV_BV
Monday, December 24 2012, 7:40PM
“Why isn't taking the "Christmas is Gay" shirts off the shelves seen as a homphobic act? I would expect gays to wear them among their friends, some of whom would be straight. I cannot believe that these shirts would cause offence to anyone.
But to ban such shirts in these times is clearly wrong.
I don't want to read obscenities and swear words and those should be taken off the shelves.
Of course the shop should not be closed down. That is a pathetic response to this matter but I suppose we could have a T-shirt for them -" Christmas for everyone but the narrowminds"”
by wheelie_bin
Monday, December 24 2012, 2:41PM
“"Mr Boissevain added that the company had only received one complaint from a member of the public before removing the T-shirts"
Clearly the complaint wasn't enough for him to remove them from the window was it? There's little enough time for children to grow up without being subjected to this at such an early age. Well done to Mr Tobias for following his convictions. Route One appear to think they are above the law when it comes to potential public order offences - and perhaps it took a visit from the police to remind them.
We don't need any shop in Bath, or elsewhere, that thinks Mother...... is an acceptable word to display in a shop window. Perhaps they should just sack the manager if he is unrepentant - like I said I hope they go bust IF (read the word IF please) they think its clever to do so. The problem is that the manager was probably told what to display by the company so my issue is with the company rather than the individual as they bought the stock (still available online for those who confuse humour with offence and wish to buy a seasonal T-shirt)
Perhaps if they went bust it would be replaced with a similar shop that produces genuinely funny T-shirts and doesn't have to resort to being offensive.
p.s. Hi bensquash, my champion of illegal parking but apparently not of offensive language (just for the record I liked your gallery before they removed it)”