A police force has launched an internal investigation after officers were caught sending a round-robin email mocking the residents of a ‘Shameless’ style estate.
Thames Valley Police officers shared a fake news report imagining the effects of an earthquake on a council estate in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
The forwarded email reports that the natural disaster ”decimated” the area – ”causing in excess of £17.55 worth of damage”.
In the fake report a resident of the lower-class estate of Fishermead is interviewed following the earthquake.
The 15-year-old mother-of-four, who has a daughter named Chardonnay-Destiny, says: ”Some residents in Fishermead were woken before their giros arrived”.
The email ends with a cash appeal and a list of what residents of the estate could buy with donations.
This includes £20 for a fake MOT and £16 for 200 ”Regal ciggies from the back of Tomo’s lorry”.
Acting chief superintendent of Thames Valley Police Nikki Ross has confirmed that an internal investigation into the email is currently underway.
She said: ”Thames Valley Police does not in anyway condone this kind of behaviour from officers or staff.
”I have referred the matter to our professional standards department and I expect my officers and staff to maintain the highest level of professionalism at all times.”
The email was created by former Tory councillor Edward Butler-Ellis following a real earthquake which shook homes in east England in February 2008.
Butler-Ellis forwarded the email to his mother, PC Emma Pullen, who then sent it to other Thames Valley Police officers.
Butler-Ellis, who was a member of Milton Keynes Council at the time, has admitted it was ”maybe stupid” to pass on an email which mocked estate residents.
Father-of-one Bob Stead, 57, a railway worker who lives in Fishermead, Milton Keynes, Bucks., believes police should sort out the estate rather than joke about it.
He said: ”This is about what I would expect from a Tory councillor. They think anyone who earns less than £100,000 a year is scum but I am a hard-working father.
”Why doesn’t he do something about the problems on the estate rather than sending joke emails round about it.
The full text of the offensive email, which is titled ‘Milton Keynes Earthquake Appeal’, includes further cruel comment about local residents.
The pregnancy ‘crisis centre’
It reads: ”An Earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale hit the new city of Milton Keynes on Wednesday morning.
”Casualties were seen wandering aimlessly saying ”bang out of order”, ”mental” and ”sorted”.
”Some are still confused that something interesting actually happened in Newport Pagnell!
”Some residents of Fishermead were woken before their ‘giros’ arrived and it caused quite a panic!
”The earthquake decimated half of the Fullers Slade area causing in excess of £17.55 worth of damage.
”Several priceless collections of mementos from Ibiza, Corfu, Rhyl and Blackpool were damaged beyond repair including a cute little donkey that ‘broke wind’ when you clapped your hands.
”Preserved areas of historic importance were destroyed and many piles of scientifically significant litter were disturbed.
”One resident of Netherfield, Miss Kylie Davies a 15 year old mother of four said ”It was such a shock, little Chardonnay-Destiny came running into my bedroom crying; my hands were shaking that much I could hardly concentrate on Jeremy Kyle”.
”The British Red Cross has so far managed to send 4,000 crates of Red Bull to the area to help with the crisis.
”Rescue workers are still searching through the rubble and have found numerous ”Elizabeth Duke” sovereign rings, benefit books and Poundstretcher ornaments.
”How can you help?
”This appeal hopes to raise money for food and clothing parcels for those unfortunate enough to be caught up in the disaster.
”Clothing is most sought after. Urgently needed are Lacoste tracksuits, white socks, Burberry caps, Beanie hats and Rockports.
”Food parcels are also needed. They include McCain oven chips, Aldi Beans, Monster Munch, Hollands pies and Iceland pizza.
”Alcohol is also in short supply, especially White Lightening Cider and Special Brew.
”Cash donations are also needed. 22p buys a ‘signing-on’ biro, £2.50 buys a pie and chips, £20.00 buys a fake MOT and £16.00 buys 200 Regal ciggies from the back of Tomo’s lorry. Your help is appreciated.”
This is just a rehash of an ‘appeal’ letter done about the same thing in Essex from a few years back (2006?), just replace the locations and a few products and it’s the same joke … Nothing new … Infact the MP just plagiarized an old email … Couldn’t even come up with something original … Still pretty funny tho 🙂