Watch out how you describe threatening tenants to the police

I had cause to report the threatening behaviour of a male tenant to the Police. The tenant was British White in terms of appearance. I did not mention this and reported nothing about either his nationality or his appearance.

I then hear back from Kent Police that there were “racial undertones” in my reporting this tenant! That was very odd I thought.

If it had been an East European then I would have included in my description the Country on his Passport which is taken as part of the tenant verification. However, I thought the Default Position would be he was British White. So I reported nothing.

I heard back as follows:-

‘It has also been identified there are racial undertones..’.

“This was wholly erroneous and I apologise unreservedly on behalf of Kent Police”.

 “The officer was remorseful and gave his apologies likewise for this supposition.”

 “He can only account for this in that he may have read it or heard it elsewhere, but there is nothing in this investigation to indicate anything of the sort”

 Hence if your readers report anything to the Police then perhaps it is better to spell it out and give the nationality in the report even if they are from the UK.

Fergus Wilson