A law which means Maldon's black-faced Molly dancers could face prosecution has been condemned.
Traditional - Maldon's Molly dancers in costume. (33265-2)
Police are now obliged by law to collect evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) if anybody makes an accusation of racism, said Sgt Neil Marshall of Maldon police.
But today the Molly dancers said threatening to prosecute people for upholding a harmless folk tradition is "political correctness gone mad".
They spoke out after Devon and Cornwall Police filmed Padstow's recent Darkie Day celebrations after a racism complaint and submitted a file to the CPS.
Maldon's Molly men and women, who black-up to dance through the town centre on Plough Monday in January, insist their tradition has nothing to do with race.
"If anyone complained, we would have to look into it. Everything we do now is by Government policy and anything racist is given a high priority," said Sgt Marshall.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Wednesday, March 2, 2005
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