Key Highlights
- The Metropolitan Police announced it will no longer investigate non-crime hate incidents to focus on criminal investigations.
- Graham Linehan was arrested at Heathrow Airport under the Public Order Act for alleged posts inciting violence, but the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to take further action.
- A policy change addresses officers’ difficulty in policing “toxic culture war debates” and aims to clarify their role.
- Linehan plans to sue the Metropolitan Police for wrongful arrest and interference with his free speech rights.
New Policy on Non-Crime Hate Incidents by Met Police
The Metropolitan Police has announced it will no longer investigate non-crime hate incidents, effective immediately. This decision was made to allow officers to focus on matters that meet the threshold for criminal investigations. The move comes amidst ongoing debates over free speech and law enforcement’s role in monitoring online discourse.
Context of the Policy Change
The policy change is aimed at providing clearer direction for officers, reducing ambiguity, and enabling them to concentrate on crimes that warrant investigation. According to a Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Commissioner Cressida Dick stated, “Officers should not be policing toxic culture war debates.” The spokesperson further elaborated, saying, “Current laws and rules on inciting violence online leave us in an impossible position.”
Incident Involving Graham Linehan
The announcement was made shortly after the Met dropped a probe into Father Ted creator Graham Linehan following his arrest at Heathrow Airport. Linehan was arrested by five officers on September 1, 2023, under suspicion of inciting violence in posts on X (formerly known as Twitter). The arrest sparked backlash from public figures and politicians, who expressed concerns over the interpretation of free speech.
Linehan’s arrest related to three posts he made on April 2023, where he expressed views about challenging “a trans-identified male” in a female-only space. The Met later clarified that Linehan was arrested under the Public Order Act for allegedly making statements that could incite violence.
Response and Legal Action
In response to his arrest, Linehan and the Free Speech Union (FSU) have vowed to sue the Metropolitan Police for wrongful arrest and interference with his free speech rights. FSU lawyers also applied to Westminster Magistrates’ Court to have all of Linehan’s bail conditions lifted due to their alleged vagueness.
On September 3, 2023, District Judge Snow ruled that the bail conditions were indeed too vague and ordered them immediately lifted. In a statement, a Metropolitan Police detective wrote: “Following a review by the Crown Prosecution Service, it has been determined that no further action will be taken in this matter.” This decision means that no charges will be brought against Graham Linehan.
Expert Perspectives
The arrest of Graham Linehan and the subsequent policy change have drawn reactions from various public figures. Green Party leader Zack Polanski called the posts “totally unacceptable” but acknowledged, “Given differing perspectives on the balance between free speech and the risks of inciting violence in the real world, police must focus on the most serious issues.” Shami Chakrabarti, a Labour peer and ex-director of Liberty, agreed that “the public order statute book and speech offences in particular do need an overarching review,” but emphasized that “inciting violence must always be a criminal offence.”
Future Implications
The policy change by the Met Police reflects broader discussions around free speech and law enforcement’s role in regulating online discourse. As the debate continues, this move may influence similar decisions by other police forces and highlight the challenges of balancing civil liberties with public safety.
