Government to review Police Balance after Graham Linehan Arrest
Following teh arrest of comedian graham Linehan at Heathrow Airport, Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting has stated the government may need to reassess whether police are striking the right balance in their enforcement priorities. Streeting told Sky News, speaking with Wilfred Frost, that he could not comment on the specifics of the case due to the independence of police operational decisions. Though, he added the government would “rather see police on the streets rather than policing tweets.”
Streeting emphasized the responsibility of Parliament in setting the laws police enforce,stating,”It’s the easiest thing in the world for people to criticise the police,but they are enforcing laws that parliament has passed adn asked them to enforce. So if we haven’t got the balance right, as Parliament over successive governments, that is something that we need to look at.” He reiterated the Home Secretary’s priorities as neighbourhood policing and border security.
Linehan was detained by five armed officers upon arrival from arizona and questioned regarding posts published on X (formerly Twitter) in April. He was briefly held in a cell,and officials took his blood pressure before transporting him to hospital as a precaution.
The arrest has sparked criticism from across the political spectrum.Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick called the incident “ridiculous and a complete waste of police time.” Reform UK leader Nigel Farage announced he will raise the case during his testimony to the House Judiciary Committee in Washington on Wednesday, addressing free speech concerns in the UK, as reported by The Sun.
Author JK Rowling also voiced strong disapproval, posting on X: “What the f*** has the UK become? This is totalitarianism. Utterly deplorable.”
Responding to questions, a spokesman for Sir Keir starmer stated the arrest was an operational matter for the police. He affirmed the Prime Minister and Home Secretary’s focus on tackling anti-social behavior, shoplifting, street crime, knife crime, and violence against women. The spokesman explicitly denied agreement with Rowling’s characterization of the UK as a “totalitarian” state.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of a man in his 50s on suspicion of inciting violence in relation to posts on X. In a statement released on September 1st, a police spokeswoman said officers became concerned for the man’s health while in custody and transported him to hospital.His condition is not life-threatening or life-changing, and he has as been bailed pending further investigation.
