LONDON (Reuters) - Scottish police have been told not to ask people if they are married in case it causes offence to gays, and to refrain from calling elderly people "old."
New directives issued to Lothian and Borders police are included in new guidelines that also instruct officers not to refer to women as "pet," "love" or "dear."
The word "homosexual" should also be avoided because it is derogatory and stems from a 19th century notion that homosexuality was an illness, the guidelines say.
"Embarrassment can also be caused to people by asking them questions which appear to assume a particular sexual orientation, such as "Are you married?..".," according to a booklet, issued after officers were sent on political correctness courses.
But it denied the booklet was a result of political correctness gone mad.
Story from Reuters
New directives issued to Lothian and Borders police are included in new guidelines that also instruct officers not to refer to women as "pet," "love" or "dear."
The word "homosexual" should also be avoided because it is derogatory and stems from a 19th century notion that homosexuality was an illness, the guidelines say.
"Embarrassment can also be caused to people by asking them questions which appear to assume a particular sexual orientation, such as "Are you married?..".," according to a booklet, issued after officers were sent on political correctness courses.
But it denied the booklet was a result of political correctness gone mad.
Story from Reuters
