Tyler Kay, a 26-year-old from Northampton, has been jailed for 38 months for his recent comments on social media. On the 7th of August, Kay made a public post on X (formerly known as Twitter) calling for mass deportation and setting fire to “all” the hotels accommodating asylum seekers. In subsequent posts, he stated, “That’s 100% the plan, plus gloves. No car either so no number plates to travel and a change of clothes nearby” and reposted a message to act against a local immigration law firm, captioning it “Let’s go.” In one instance, he even tagged the Northamptonshire Police as well.
A few hours later Kay was arrested at his home, and on 9th August he appeared in Northampton Crown Court. He pleaded that he had not intended to stir up racial hatred, but Judge Adrienne Lucking dismissed this, stating that his posts were racist, shocking and had “no place in a civilised society, including on social media.”
Kay was sentenced to up to 38 months’ imprisonment for publishing written material that was threatening, abusive or insulting, thereby intending to stir up racial hatred or, having regard to all circumstances, likely to stir up racial hatred. Racial hatred is defined in section 17 of the Public Order Act 1986 as “hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins.” Here, Kay was inciting racial hatred towards foreign refugees and asylum seekers.
Up to half of the sentence will be in custody (jail) and the remainder will be on license, meaning that Kay will be released subject to certain conditions (for example, good behaviour according to Prisoners’ Families Helpline). The judge’s full sentencing remarks are here.
Despite the shocking and recent violence across the UK, it is clear from the quick arrests and sentencing that the government is taking steps to hold people accountable for racial hatred, whether that is online or in real life.
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By Tiffany Carpenter
12.08.2024