Police order gardener to cut 'offensive' middle finger-shaped bush

A hedge clipped to look like an extended middle finger has landed one gardener in trouble after police ordered the offensive bush to be altered following a complaint.

Warwickshire Police have told creator Richard Jackson his cheeky garden humour must be altered as it is considered a public offence.

In response, neighbours in Tamworth, Staffordshire, have started a Save the Bush campaign.

‘I carved the bush into a middle finger eight years ago and there has only ever been one complaint about it, made recently,’ explained Mr Jackson.

‘I was contacted by the police and they said the council had been in touch because somebody had complained to them about it.

‘Apparently, one person was offended by it and the police said it was a public order offence.’

He added: ‘I don’t intend to change it though – I’m not a trouble maker and I don’t want to offend anyone but at the same time, it’s been here for eight years and I don’t see why I should have anybody telling me what to change in my garden.

‘If everybody else likes it and there’s only one complaint in eight years then I don’t think it is a public offence, as the majority aren’t offended.

‘I don’t think the policeman wanted to be here as much as I wanted him here, but he did ask me if I could make alterations to it – but I won’t.’

Warwickshire Police said if they receive a direct complaint about the hedge they would deal with it proportionately.

via Police order gardener to cut ‘offensive’ middle finger-shaped bush | Metro.co.uk.

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