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| Naked woman sandcastle police apologise for "bad taste" sculpture | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A police force has apologised after its officers made a sandcastle "crime scene" featuring a naked dead woman. | A police force has apologised after its officers made a sandcastle "crime scene" featuring a naked dead woman. |
| The sculpture, depicting a sprawled murder victim surrounded by police tape, was crowned winner of the Cornwall Beach Games sandcastle competition. | The sculpture, depicting a sprawled murder victim surrounded by police tape, was crowned winner of the Cornwall Beach Games sandcastle competition. |
| But Devon and Cornwall Police was criticised after boasting officers tweeted about their victory. | But Devon and Cornwall Police was criticised after boasting officers tweeted about their victory. |
| Labour councillor Hannah Toms said some would find it "very offensive". | Labour councillor Hannah Toms said some would find it "very offensive". |
| 'Large breasts' | 'Large breasts' |
| The force said it was a "fun event" and officers had not intended to cause any offence. | The force said it was a "fun event" and officers had not intended to cause any offence. |
| Ms Toms acknowledged officers had intended to be "light-hearted" but said the sandcastle "somewhat misses the mark and is in a bit of poor taste". | Ms Toms acknowledged officers had intended to be "light-hearted" but said the sandcastle "somewhat misses the mark and is in a bit of poor taste". |
| "I like a joke as much as the next person but this is a family beach event," she said. | "I like a joke as much as the next person but this is a family beach event," she said. |
| "As a parent I would not be very happy to explain to my child what it was all about. | "As a parent I would not be very happy to explain to my child what it was all about. |
| "It's trivialising quite a serious matter." | "It's trivialising quite a serious matter." |
| Ms Toms added: "I think there's a level of sexual stereotyping with the large bottom and the large breasts. Police have been working really hard to break down barriers on reporting sex crimes and I don't think this image really helps their cause." | Ms Toms added: "I think there's a level of sexual stereotyping with the large bottom and the large breasts. Police have been working really hard to break down barriers on reporting sex crimes and I don't think this image really helps their cause." |
| Reaction on social media was mixed, with some defending the sandcastle. | Reaction on social media was mixed, with some defending the sandcastle. |
| Hazel Jago said on Facebook: "So it's a team of police officers representing the type of work they deal with. What's the problem!? There is always someone that will whinge about something." | Hazel Jago said on Facebook: "So it's a team of police officers representing the type of work they deal with. What's the problem!? There is always someone that will whinge about something." |
| Lorraine Lardon said: "People need an injection of humour." | Lorraine Lardon said: "People need an injection of humour." |
| A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "If any offence has been cause by the nature of the sculpture, this was never intended and we apologise for that." | A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "If any offence has been cause by the nature of the sculpture, this was never intended and we apologise for that." |