Weston Mercury to face no further action over 'Gypsy' billboard

A Somerset newspaper that promoted an edition with a billboard declaring that "Gypsies could be on your doorstep" will not face charges for inciting racial hatred, police have confirmed. Avon and Somerset police referred the Weston Mercury to the Crown Prosecution Service last week, after the issue was reported by North Somerset Green Party councillor Tom Leimdorfer, whose ward of Congresbury has a significant Romany Gypsy community. However, a police spokesman told Journalism.co.uk today: "Following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, no further action will be taken by the police in relation to this matter." The Archant-owned paper removed the billboards and issued a prompt page three apology on 22 March, admitting the wording was "inappropriate and may have caused offence".