Irish police prompt fury with holiday-themed rape tweet

Police are facing backlash after sending an incoherent tweet in attempt to warn people about sexual consent.

The Northern Ireland Police Service wrote on Twitter that: “If you bump into that special someone under the mistletoe tonight, remember that without consent it is rape.”

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Onlookers guessed whether the police were warning spoke to kissing specifically, or the act of standing too close.

One said: “Bumping into someone, under the mistletoe, is now considered rape? Why do you trivialize such a serious issue with such a nonsense tweet?”

The force attempted to clarify the message, but had trouble getting their point across.

They said: “We posted a message on Twitter yesterday that some may have taken out of context but the message remains the same; when you are out socializing over the Christmas period, please remember without consent it is rape.”

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The replies continued: “I need consent to socialize? Who knew? Maybe get someone on your social media who has a grasp of the English language.”

Another said: “Since when did a kiss under the mistletoe turn into rape? Get a grip, and start being thief takes again not half-arsed SJWs [social justice warriors].”

Jennifer Cobbe from Belfast wrote: “’Please remember that sex without consent is rape.’ See? Not difficult. Yet you’ve messed it up twice now.”

Thanks Jen. Not the sort of thing you’d want to mess up.

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