Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has defended his force's controversial arrest of Father Ted creator Graham Linehan, saying officers are caught "between a rock and a hard place" when dealing with online posts. The commissioner said he has suggested changes to government and is ready to test new approaches "within a matter of weeks".
Linehan, 57, was arrested at Heathrow Airport over three posts he made on X about trans issues, sparking widespread debate about free speech and police powers. His force came under fire after the arrest triggered criticism about police involvement in online debates.
Police defend existing approach
In his first statement after the controversy erupted, Rowley acknowledged the concerns whilst defending the arrest under current legislation. "While the decision to investigate and ultimately arrest the man was made within existing legislation, which dictates that a threat to punch someone from a protected group could be an offence, I understand the concern caused by such incidents given differing perspectives on the balance between free speech and the risks of inciting violence in the real world," he said.
The commissioner argued that serious threats must be investigated by police. "Most reasonable people would agree that genuine threats of physical violence against an identified person or group should be acted upon by officers," he stated. "Such actions can and do have serious and violent real-world implications."
System needs fundamental reform
However, Rowley criticised successive governments for creating the current legal framework that forces police action in ambiguous cases. "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, who have given officers no choice but to record such incidents as crimes when they're reported," he explained.
He emphasised that police are then legally obligated to pursue investigations. "Then they are obliged to follow all lines of inquiry and take action as appropriate," Rowley added. "I don't believe we should be policing toxic culture wars debates and officers are currently in an impossible position."
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
