Police investigating Agency postman for 'hate crime' after doorbell camera captures him knocking over rainbow garden gnome

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/uk-new ... e-36381256

I thought long and hard about whether I should post this. I am trusting people to keep any discussion civil and within the rules.

Police investigating postman for 'hate crime' after doorbell camera captures him knocking over rainbow garden gnome
A couple living at the address believe the video shows the postman deliberately knocking over the Pride ornament.

A postman has had his employment with Royal Mail terminated and is under police investigation after a Ring doorbell camera appeared to capture him kicking over a rainbow garden gnome.

The incident took place in East Belfast on Saturday (December 6), and Royal Mail has since confirmed that "the individual was an agency worker, and their contract assignment has been terminated with immediate effect."

A planter bearing a Pride flag was knocked over, allegedly on purpose, along with the gnome, in the footage after the postman realised no one was home at the address. The couple who live in the house, and who wish not to be named, were "stunned" to return home and discover who caused the damage, reports Belfast Live.

“We were absolutely stunned when we checked the Ring footage. You never expect to see your own postman looking around to make sure the coast is clear and then deliberately kicking over your property," the woman who reported the incident to Royal Mail explained.

“It wasn’t just a gnome and a planter. It felt like a targeted message, and that’s what has really shaken us.

“There’s no doubt in our minds that this was a homophobic act. These items weren’t in his way. He sought them out and kicked them over on purpose.”

Royal Mail was informed the following day, with the mail service assuring the occupants that a member of staff would be in contact, but, to date, they claim no one has done so.

“We reported the incident to Royal Mail straight away and were told someone would be in touch, but we’ve heard nothing since. It’s added to the stress of the whole situation.

"At the very least, we expected a call back, some reassurance, or even an acknowledgement that what happened was unacceptable.

"We are not trying to cause trouble for the sake of it, but we don't want anyone else to go through something like this."

Belfast's Inspector Adams has confirmed the incident "is being treated as a homophobic hate crime and our enquiries are ongoing."

Inspector Adams added: “We received a report at around 11.15am on Sunday, 7th December, of a plant pot containing a Pride flag and a garden gnome statue with a rainbow being knocked over at a property in the Rosebery Gardens area.

“It was reported that a man observed at the house at around 3.35pm on Saturday, 6th December, looked at the plant pot before deliberately kicking it over.

“We would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time, or who may have any information which could assist with our enquiries – including CCTV or other footage – to contact us on 101, quoting reference number 587 of 07/12/25.

“You can also submit a report or information online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/. ”

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: “We have viewed the footage and referred it to local management for investigation. We take this seriously and are looking into what happened as a priority.

"The individual was an agency worker, and their contract assignment has been terminated with immediate effect."

[stevejm]

The agency guy should have gnome better

[pinstripe]

Whether or not it was a hate crime, it was a deliberate act of vandalism and as such RM were right to sack the individual. It is up to the police/CPS (or whatever organisation deals with this in Northern Ireland) to decide if it was a hate crime, RM have already taken what action they could against the individual, I don’t see what else they could do.

In over 25 years on delivery I’ve never deliberately damaged or attempted to damage a customers property

[Mr Rush]

In over 25 years on delivery I’ve never deliberately damaged or attempted to damage a customers property

I think this is the difference between doing this job for a living and the revolving door of randos that it's turning into. Fling packets over hedges, break the letterbox, break the gate - who cares? Nothing invested so nothing lost. Off to Deliveroo, off to Uber Eats, off to Evri.

Even before pervasive surveillance; as a duty holder I'd be thinking about preventing complaints, preventing customers from becoming antagonistic, preventing myself from getting kicked off a duty I liked, preventing myself from getting fired from a job I loved (emphasis past tense).

[Hitbox]

you should never pass judgement at all

simple as- if you are not capable of doing any type of general public job that requires you to face all sorts of backgrounds, religious beliefs and sexual orientation then the job isn't for you to understand How to treat customers with Respect.

I hope the now former postie does gets punished further for Not following that simple yet common sense rule....