What is going on with Suella Braverman and a seizure of golli*** dolls?

Police seized golliw** dolls from a pub in Essex because people complained about them under hate crime grounds.

It was then said that the home secretary Suella Braverman got involved with reports claiming sources close to her said it was a waste of police resources.

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Here's what you need to know about the story.

What happened?

Five officers from Essex Police took several of some 30 dolls from the White Hart Inn in Grays last week after receiving a hate crime complaint on 24th February.

Police said an investigation was ongoing after a "member of the public reported being distressed" after attending the pub.

No arrests were made.

The owner's husband is set to be questioned when he returns from abroad in May.

The dolls, based on 18th-century minstrels, are now considered to be racist caricatures.

But the pub was not pleased.

Owner Benice Ryley said she "can't see any harm" and that the dolls had been donated over the years by her aunt and the pub's customers.

"No, I don't know how they [people] can find it offensive," she told PA. "If they don't like it, they don't have to come through the door."

Why did Braverman get involved?

A Home Office source told Sky News Suella Braverman regards the feds getting involved as a waste of police resources.

"The Home Secretary's views have now been made very plain to Essex Police so they're under no illusions. Police forces should not be getting involved in this kind of nonsense," they said.

"It's about tackling anti-social behaviour, stopping violence against women and girls, attending burglaries and catching criminals - not seizing dolls."

What have the police said?

In a statement, Essex Police denied the home secretary had been "contacted directly" over the incident.

"We maintain operational independence from the Home Office which ensures that every investigation is carried out without fear or favour" the force said.

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