Constabulary apologise for using picture of black person on drug supply leaflet

On Saturday, Cumbria police issued the following statement, saying their choice of image was 'poor'.

A spokesperson for the force said: "Cumbria Constabulary are aware of concerns raised regarding a leaflet which includes an image of a black person dealing drugs.

"The leaflet has been used as part of efforts to gain further information on drug supply within our county.

"Following feedback, the Constabulary accept that this was a poor choice of image.

"Immediate action has been taken to remove this material from further use and additional processes have been put in place to ensure appropriate imagery is used in future material.

"The Constabulary apologise for the offence this has caused."

The public apology attracted much attention on social media, with one person commenting: "Why apologise, because the image they used was a black person?

"Would they apologise if they used an image of a white person or a woman or a LGBTQ+ person and people from them communities were offended?

"Anyone could be a drug dealer (if they had the cojones to do it), I doubt the police where singling the black community out, the person in the image just happened to be black.

"Society today is too damn sensitive."

While another wrote: "Next time use an image of an alien and we’ll await to see if they complain too."

However, one user said: "So many people's comments here baffle me - they smack of white privilege.

"Using images of black people dealing drugs creates a wildly inaccurate and archaic racial stereotype, as well as sadly and embarrassingly continuing a 'black is bad' effect.

"Read a book and open your narrow minds."