Police told anti-terror ads are too offensive

Britain's eccentrics, recluses and misanthropes, you can relax. Ignoring neighbours and keeping your curtains permanently shut to the world outside might not win you many friends, but you're no longer likely to be denounced as a possible terrorist.

A radio advert that urged listeners to consider calling the police's anti-terrorist hotline if they had suspicions about local people who avoided company, kept their windows covered and eschewed bank cards for cash has been banned for potentially causing "serious offence".



The campaign by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), broadcast on the TalkSport radio station, could upset those "who might identify with the behaviours referred to in the ad", the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled.

The brief message, billed as "brought to you by TalkSport and the anti-terrorist hotline", urged the public to call if they spotted any apparent patterns of unusual behaviour. It gave seemingly everyday examples: "The man at the end of the street doesn't talk to his neighbours much, because he likes to keep himself to himself. He pays with cash because he doesn't have a bank card, and he keeps his curtains closed because his house is on a bus route. This may mean nothing, but together it could all add up to you having suspicions."

You should also watch out for the person two desks down from you, the police also warn. Link goes directly to mp3.