We all know brands love using Christmas to shape their content on social media, but it feels a bit off when serious institutions get involved.
So you can imagine what happened when the Metropolitan Police bizarrely decided to take a festive approach to hunting suspected criminals, by posting an odd video advent calendar in which a new suspect is revealed daily for the public to watch out for, up until December 25 itself.
We are looking for 12 wanted suspects across London.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) December 13, 2021
Can you help us find them?
The lovely video starts with a red background and words with the jolly “12 days of Christmas crime” appearing on the screen, as cartoon snow falls gently.
It then moves to an image of an advent calendar of 12 alleged wrong’uns silhouetted behind doors and it’s time to open door number one!
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Who is behind door number one? Well it is only “Andrew Claffey wanted for assault and carrying a knife”!
Yeah, we would have preferred a square of chocolate too.
This all seems pretty odd but the Met don’t appear to agree. In a press statement, superintendent Thomas Naughton said: ⯓With Christmas around 12 days away, we are increasing our efforts to arrest these individuals and apprehend them for their crimes.
“These offenders have caused harm and distress to their victims and it is our priority to arrest them to prevent them from causing further offences.”
Fair enough. But reacting to it, people thought the calendar was in pretty bad taste and just utterly bizarre.
Huh, turning the celebration of advent into a mugshot parade - is it just me, or is this in really bad taste?
— Leon Crosby (@_hiero) December 13, 2021
Who signed this off
— Amelia Dimoldenberg (@ameliadimz) December 14, 2021
This is really oddly jolly bearing in mind the subject matter? Did this really need snow and an advent calendar?
— Tippers (@talktotippers) December 13, 2021
What the fuck is going on https://t.co/CpqJyYSrfs
— Pheen 🌱 (@Pheenips) December 14, 2021
🎶 On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me 🎵 A mugger with an ASBO 🎶 https://t.co/ecSzetG3yf
— Roly West (@RolyUnGashaa) December 14, 2021
I'M CRYING WHAT IS THIS https://t.co/2dIOSXlWju
— 🎄NamesAidan🎄 (@MyNamesAidan) December 14, 2021
I think it’s time we acknowledge that we actually live in dystopia now. I absolutely cannot believe this is real. https://t.co/U99sawTtDo
— Calum McSwiggan (@CalumMcSwiggan) December 13, 2021
Of course, loads of people joked that they would find some culprits in Westminster and noted the force’s decision not to investigate alleged Christmas parties in Downing Street last year due to “a lack of evidence” and a policy meaning they don’t investigate retrospective crimes.
But I thought you weren’t interested in ‘retrospective’ crimes..? I’ve got some suspects for you: pic.twitter.com/76g2mXCzQC
— Paul 🌹 (@dogooderpaul) December 13, 2021
Have you tried 10 Downing St?
— Kate Wilton (@KateWilton1) December 13, 2021
"Can you help us find them?"
— Taru (@taru_sisko) December 13, 2021
There is now photos of Downing Street Xmas Party and we are expecting more. You can start there.
Try this lot while you’re at it. Usually hanging out in the Westminster area. I believe they’re known to your boss. pic.twitter.com/uzH6MWGjM5
— Chris Bailey 🏳️🌈🔸💙🇪🇺 #FBPE #FBPPR (@thevicarofhell) December 14, 2021
is it these folks pic.twitter.com/vogwsauXsC
— Joe Hudson-Small (@joehudsonsmall) December 13, 2021
Here you go pic.twitter.com/91nMbFI446
— AviosAdventurer 🇬🇧🇿🇦🇹🇷🇰🇭 (@aviosAdventurer) December 13, 2021
Oh dear. Given normal advent calendars usually have a bigger chocolate on the 25th to really give people a treat, we just wonder what heinous suspected criminal Scotland Yard will reveal on Christmas Day?
We’ve contacted them to comment.
