Gazette editor Katie French 'willing to take police action over racist trolls'

News websites are threatening police action and vow to shame racist readers amid a crackdown by regional press editors on online comments, Hold The Front Page reports. 

Plymouth Live editor Edd Moore has warned he will act against people making “racist remarks” online after taking the unprecedented step of removing the comments function from several stories related to the Black Lives Matters protests.

Basingstoke Gazette editor Katie French has also taken similar action in recent days, and confirmed to HTFP she is prepared to report comments to the police if necessary too.

The Gazette turned its masthead black today in solidarity with the protesters.

In an editorial, she wrote: “One of the reoccurring themes seems to be that racism is political. Racism is not a political matter. Equality is a basic, fundamental human right.

To be clear, racism and discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated on any of the Gazette’s platforms. Users posting offensive comments will be blocked and removed from our sites.

“As editor, I am not prepared to stand by and watch people with outdated views try and maintain the status quo by silencing black voices and derailing the conversation.”

Katie added: “Changes needs to happen and change requires leadership. I am prepared to provide that leadership from the standpoint of being the local newspaper editor.

“I realise I am one part of a massive puzzle but if I can even create the smallest positive change towards a more equal society then I will consider this to be a success.”

Read the story in full here.