The Metropolitan Police has announced it will discontinue investigations into non-crime hate incidents, redirecting resources to focus on cases meeting the threshold for criminal investigation.
This decision coincides with the Met’s confirmation that it has dropped its investigation into Graham Linehan, the creator of Father Ted, who was apprehended at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of inciting violence through posts on X.
Linehan’s arrest, made by five officers on September 1 upon his arrival from the United States, drew criticism from various public figures and politicians.
Following a “careful review” of the evidence provided by the police, the Crown Prosecution Service determined that no further action would be taken against the writer.
In a statement released Monday addressing the issue of non-crime hate incidents, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police acknowledged “the concern” surrounding the case.
The spokesperson stated, “The commissioner has made it clear that officers should not be policing contentious culture war debates, as current laws and regulations regarding online incitement to violence place them in an untenable position.”
The policy adjustment aims to “provide officers with clearer guidance, reduce ambiguity, and enable them to prioritize matters that meet the criteria for criminal investigations,” the spokesperson elaborated.
Non-crime hate incidents encompass actions perceived to be driven by hostility or prejudice toward individuals based on specific characteristics, such as race or transgender identity.
These incidents are documented to gather data on “hate incidents that could escalate into more serious harm” but do not constitute a criminal offense, as outlined in Home Office guidelines.
Police guidelines for recording NCHIs were initially published in 2005, following recommendations from an inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Linehan was arrested at Heathrow under the Public Order Act.
In an email to Linehan’s legal representatives, a Metropolitan Police detective stated, “I am writing to inform you that, following a review of the evidence by the Crown Prosecution Service, it has been determined that no further action will be taken in this matter.”
“This decision signifies that no charges will be filed against Graham Linehan in connection with this allegation.”
“Please be advised that this decision may be subject to reconsideration should further evidence or information come to light.”
Linehan and the Free Speech Union (FSU), an advocacy organization, have pledged to sue the Metropolitan Police for wrongful arrest and infringement of his free speech rights.
The writer added that Westminster Magistrates’ Court had previously ordered the removal of all his bail conditions following an application by FSU lawyers. District Judge Snow deemed the conditions excessively vague and mandated their immediate lifting.
In a Substack article published in September, Linehan recounted that after his arrest at the airport, officials expressed concern for his health after measuring his blood pressure. He was subsequently taken to a hospital.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man in his 50s was arrested at Heathrow Airport on September 1 and taken to hospital, adding that his condition “is neither life-threatening nor life-changing,” and he was released on bail “pending further investigation.”
Linehan stated in his Substack post that his arrest stemmed from three posts made on X in April, expressing his views on challenging “a trans-identified male” in “a female-only space.”
He shared screenshots of the posts he claimed led to his arrest on Substack, the subscription-based online platform.
The first post, from his X feed, 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.”
He further wrote on Substack that during his police interview following the arrest, “I explained that the ‘punch’ tweet was a serious point made with a joke,” and that it pertained to “the height difference between men and women… and certainly not a call to violence.”
His second post from X appeared to be an aerial photograph of a group of protesters in a town center, which he captioned “a photo you can smell.”
The third expressed his views, in which he stated “I hate them,” referring to “misogynists and homophobes,” adding an expletive.
On September 3, the head of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, defended the officers involved in the Heathrow arrests, but acknowledged “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 urged the government to “change or clarify” the law following Linehan’s arrest, while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that police must “focus on the most serious issues” when questioned about the arrest.
At the time, Green Party leader Zack Polanski characterized the posts as “totally unacceptable,” deeming the arrest “proportionate,” while Shami Chakrabarti, a Labour peer and former director of Liberty, a civil liberties group, commented that “the public order statute book and speech offenses in particular do need an overarching review.”
“But inciting violence must always be a criminal offense,” she added.
Linehan has pleaded not guilty to charges of harassment and criminal damage in an unrelated case, which has been adjourned until October 29, with the comedian released on bail.
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