Aussie Comic's 'Abhorrent' Joke Enrages UK Police

Australian-born stand-up comedian Steve Hughes has enraged the UK public after mentioning the deaths of two police officers from the previous day in his act. During his show at the Manchester Comedy Store Hughes, who is known for his anti-police routine in his acts, commented that more people die in police custody than police officers in the line of duty.

An inspector from the Greater Manchester Police was reportedly in the audience and walked out in disgust, shortly followed by the Police Federation demanding an apology from the Manchester Comedy Store.

Police Chairman Ian Hanson said in a statement “This is abhorrent. How could anyone think it was 'funny' to make jokes about the death of our two colleagues? Manchester's Comedy Store should make a full apology. Jokes at expense of brave police officers killed on duty are not funny.”

Hughes, has since issued an apology, explaining that he was not making jokes about the officers and that the situation is a tragedy. “There was no joke about police officers. I would simply never tell a joke about two people who have been killed. These were simple statistics. I would never say anything about the death of anyone. It would be insensitive. I'm a grown man. There's no need to disturb someone for no good reason”.

The comic, who has been based in the UK for the past ten years, is also a renowned heavy metal musician, having played with the bands Mortal Sin and Nazxul before switching to comedy full-time.