BRITAIN’S top cop yesterday demanded a return to “commonsense” policing as the backlash grew over the arrest of Father Ted creator Graham Linehan for three “anti-trans” tweets.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley called for an immediate change in the law and insisted successive governments were to blame.
Linehan claimed he was escorted to hospital after he was arrested because the stress caused his blood pressure to skyrocket to ‘stroke levels’[/caption]
Sir Mark called for an immediate change in the law and insisted successive governments were to blame[/caption]
He said cops were stuck “between a rock and a hard place” and expected to enforce left-leaning laws designed to police “toxic culture wars” online.
And he was backed by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who said legislation could be changed if the law was “not getting the balance right” on free speech.
Mr Streeting said: “We want to see people being kept safe by policing streets, not just policing tweets. The police enforce the laws of the land we as legislators provide.
“So if we’re not getting the balance right, then that’s something we have to look at.”
The Sun told yesterday how comedy writer Mr Linehan, 57, was arrested by five armed cops at Heathrow on Monday, after he arrived on a flight from the US, over three “anti-trans” tweets he posted in April.
He said he is now suing the Met Police for wrongful arrest and wrongful imprisonment, in a case being supported by the Free Speech Union.
But backing his under-fire officers, Sir Mark said the decision to investigate and arrest Mr Linehan was made “within existing legislation”.
He added: “I understand the concern caused by such incidents, given differing perspectives on the balance between free speech and the risks of inciting real-world violence.
“Most reasonable people would agree that genuine threats of physical violence against an identified person or group should be acted upon.
“But when it comes to lesser cases, where there is ambiguity in terms of intent and harm, policing has been left between a rock and a hard place by successive governments, which have given officers no choice but to record such incidents as crimes.
“I don’t believe we should be policing toxic culture wars debates and officers are currently in an impossible position.”
He said laws governing social media posts could be changed and new approaches tested “within a matter of weeks”.
Sir Mark added: “Greater clarity and common sense would enable us to limit the resources we dedicate to tackling online statements to cases creating real threats in the real world.
“I hope to see this happen without delay, so policing’s focus can be squarely on tackling priority issues like street crime and serious violence.”
Mr Streeting’s comments backing changes in the law could set him on a collision course with Sir Keir Starmer, who has called for cops to focus on the real issues.
The PM said: “I’ve been clear throughout that we must ensure the police focus on the most serious issues, and the issues that matter most to our constituencies and all communities.
“That includes tackling issues like anti-social behaviour, knife crime and violence.
“We have a long history of free speech in this country. I’m very proud of that and I will always defend it.”
Linehan has revealed he will be suing the Met Police after his arrest[/caption]
His response came after Tory MP Jack Rankin told Prime Minister’s Questions: “Some may have found Mr Linehan’s comments offensive, but that’s not the point.
“If you don’t support speech you don’t like, you don’t support free speech.”
And he asked: “Will the Prime Minister commit to reviewing our speech laws, to ensure that legitimate free expression is protected, and condemn the culture in the public sector which prioritises this dangerous and perverse nonsense?”
Mr Linehan, who said he was taken to hospital when his blood pressure spiked to “stroke territory” while he was in custody, was accused of inciting violence before being released on bail.
He said he had been “treated like a terrorist”.
One of his three alleged offending posts read: “If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.”
Another was a pic of a trans-rights protest, with the comment: “A photo you can smell.”
A follow-up said: “I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** em.”
Senior Tory Sir James Cleverly said the arrest was a “real overreaction”.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick described it as “a complete waste of police time”.
In a separate case, Linehan is due at Westminster magistrates’ court today to face charges of harassment and criminal damage against trans activist Sophia Brooks, which he has denied.
Sir Mark said the decision to investigate and arrest Mr Linehan, above, was made ‘within existing legislation’[/caption]
Graham Linehan claims trans rights activists have taken ‘everything’ from him because of outspoken views
Barry Moran
FATHER Ted co-creator Graham Linehan claims trans rights activists have taken “everything” from him because of his outspoken views.
The comedy writer said he’s been “beaten and bullied for years” as a result of his controversial stance on transgender issues.
He was previously banned from Twitter after he was repeatedly accused of harassment and reported to the police on several occasions.
In an emotional interview in 2022, he told how he’d been “so cancelled” that he’d been offered money to walk away from the Fr Ted musical due to the stigma.
He said: “(The musical) was going great.
“Neil Hannon has written some brilliant songs. We’d rehearsed it twice. Then they’re saying I have to walk away from it and offering me £200,000.
“I was really close to taking it because I could use the money, but they’re saying I can’t even have any creative involvement. I can’t even go to rehearsals. What the **** is going on?
“These people, I thought, were my friends. They were saying they won’t be able to get financiers for it unless I step away.”
But Linehan disagreed and claimed he thinks they were worried about “their under-35s who all seem to believe this s***”.
He also hit out at fellow celebs for not coming to his defence and continued: “I’ve been called a bigot for years and no one stood up for me.
Linehan revealed sudden financial insecurity from his stance on transgender rights caused so much strain that his marriage broke down.
The comedy writer told the Communications and Digital Committee that engaging in “the fashionable American orthodoxy of gender identity ideology” led to the split from his wife after work dried up.