To say that UK police handling of online abuse is inconsistent is
something of an understatement. In particular, these inconsistencies are
highlighted in the case of British musician Alison Chabloz, who shot to
fame after performing a "quenelle" salute at the Edinburgh Fringe
festival in 2015. Chabloz was again in the news during this year's
Fringe after her show was pulled for being "too political".
Victim
of targeted harassment and abuse from vicious, pro-Israel "advocates"
as well as from a host of anonymous Hasbara "Ziotrolls" and assorted
Leftist, liberal "social justice warriors", Chabloz was recently
informed by her local police force in Derbyshire that their
investigation for malicious communications and harassment regarding this
online abuse against Chabloz had been closed. The investigation began
earlier this year after Chabloz had received several unwanted postal
deliveries, including anonymous birthday and Christmas cards as well as
several sales catalogues (e.g. for reinforced doors and blinds)
addressed to her in a derogatory manner.
Ten days after receiving
news of the now closed case, Chabloz was arrested by local police in an
investigation involving two other forces. She was questioned and
detained for six hours - more than two hours spent locked in a cell -
learning on her release at midnight that during this time police had
raided her domicile and seized her laptop.
Chabloz's hate crime,
allegedly, concerns both her 15-month-old " quenelle" as well as songs
performed at London's Grosvenor Hotel last September during a meeting of
The London Forum.
Besides the allegation of incitement, Chabloz was
also arrested and questioned on suspicion of online harassment of two of
her critics.
Chabloz's solicitor said no evidence of any such harassment was presented during the interview.
In
fact, as early as 2014, Chabloz had been advised by the Musicians'
Union to report to police after being fired by Carnival Group for a
satirical tweet posted six months before she began working for the
company.
Both in the above case along with several other
subsequent incidents of online harassment, including death threats and
further attempts to prevent Chabloz from performing, Derbyshire police
failed to take appropriate action against the perpetrators.
With
her laptop now in police hands, Chabloz's gigs are on hold because the
device contains all her sheet music, backing tracks and software vital
for her performances. Chabloz' solicitor has submitted a legal request
to try and recoup the device and a mobile phone also seized.
Chabloz has been bailed till January 12 pending a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service.
As
well, November 19, Chabloz received a court summons to appear in front
of Westminster Magistrates Court in a private prosecution brought
against her by Gideon Falter, director of UK registered "charity"
Campaign Against Antisemitism. Falter accuses Chabloz of using social
media to cause offense in breach of the 2003 Communications Act after
Chabloz posted a video of her song (((Survivors))) on YouTube. The song
has gained over six million - sorry, six thousand views views so far.
The hearing will take place at 10am on December 15.
codoh.com/library/document/4152/
