Police and speech arrests
The Free Speech Union has covered 125 stories on this topic. Browse our coverage below.
14 August 2026
The Jason Arday saga exposes the Met Police's troubling pattern on free speech
FSU Campaigns Officer Max Thompson, writing for GB News, argues the Met Police's investigations into Graham Linehan and journalist Jack Grove over the Jason Arday affair show a force still willing to police lawful speech rather than crime.
10 August 2026
Government department deletes all responses to consultation for the official Islamophobia definition
A Freedom of Information request reveals that the Government deleted all consultation responses submitted to the Working Group behind its Islamophobia definition — the same definition the FSU warned would chill free speech and which has already been used to silence legitimate criticism of Islam.
3 August 2026
Allison Pearson has received an apology and payout from Essex's Police and Crime Commissioner
Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson has received a public apology and a reported five-figure payout from Essex's Police and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst, after the High Court found his comments about her could be seen as defamatory.
9 July 2026
Met Police Apologises and Pays Graham Linehan £25,000
The Metropolitan Police have offered Graham Linehan an unreserved apology and £25,000 compensation after arresting him at Heathrow over three gender-critical posts on X. The Free Speech Union is proud to have supported Graham throughout.
29 June 2026
Labour's jury trial reforms are a threat to free speech, says former High Court judge
A former High Court judge has warned that Labour's plans to curtail the right to trial by jury pose a direct threat to freedom of speech and protest. Sir Stephen Mitchell argues that jury trials are a critical safeguard against politically motivated prosecutions—particularly in Public Order cases where free expression is at stake—and that removing them would hand the Government a mechanism to bypass that protection in "sensitive" cases.
29 June 2026
Hong Kong bookshop owners arrested in yet another free speech crackdown
In a reminder of the horrors of Hong Kong's censorship crisis, two bookshop owners have been arrested and accused of "displaying seditious items", including material said to incite hatred against the Hong Kong SAR government, its judiciary, and law enforcement agencies. The charge of displaying seditious items carries a maximum sentence of fourteen years in prison. It falls under the Hong Kong Safeguarding National Security Ordinance—commonly known as Article 23—which goes even further than the Beijing-imposed National Security Law introduced in 2020.
10 June 2026
South Wales Police shelve Islamic blasphemy law after FSU legal threat
South Wales Police have shelved their controversial "anti-Muslim hostility" definition after the Free Speech Union threatened them with a judicial review.
2 June 2026
South Wales Police enforcing its own Islamophobia definition that will have a chilling effect on free speech
South Wales Police has told officers to log anti-Islam conversations that stray beyond what it deems "legitimate" — a subjective threshold that hands individual officers the power to determine acceptable speech and could see lawful expression recorded as an anti-social behaviour incident, potentially appearing in DBS checks. The Free Speech Union has written to the force demanding it withdraw the guidance, warning of judicial review if it refuses.
2 June 2026
FSU Henry Nowak Statement
Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student, was stabbed with a 21cm ceremonial knife on a night out in Southampton. When police arrived, they handcuffed and arrested him for an alleged racial slur rather than trying to save his life. The Free Speech Union has long warned that the police need to get their priorities straight, and there are serious questions Hampshire Police must answer.
2 June 2026
FSU member James Cooper acquitted of violent disorder
FSU member James Cooper has been unanimously acquitted of violent disorder at Manchester Crown Court, after the Free Speech Union funded his defence over his attendance at a 2024 protest outside a Manchester asylum hotel.
20 May 2026
Met Police apologise to Graham Linehan
After a five-month investigation, the Metropolitan Police has issued an unreserved apology to Graham Linehan for his arrest at Heathrow Airport last September, when five armed officers detained him over posts he had made on X expressing gender-critical views. The apology is welcome — but it has taken far too long, and Graham should never have been arrested in the first place.
20 May 2026
FSU MEMBER TESTIMONIAL: Graham Linehan
In this week's FSU Member Testimonial, Graham Linehan describes the role the Free Speech Union played in supporting him through his arrest at Heathrow, the dropping of the criminal investigation against him, and the Metropolitan Police's eventual apology.
20 May 2026
Investigation into Christian street preacher dropped
Avon and Somerset Police drop investigation into Christian street preacher who is backed by the White House. Dia Moodley describes it as a "win for free speech", but he should never have been arrested in the first place.
15 May 2026
Free Speech is a ‘Postcode Lottery’ in Britain
Big Brother Watch has exposed sharp disparities in arrest rates across constabularies, with some forces making eight times more arrests than their neighbours and detaining people at around twice the national average. Cumbria Police is 30 times more likely to arrest people for speech-related offences to others.
11 May 2026
Councils that are banning shouting and swearing are threatening free speech
A survey has shown that one in five councils have introduced bans on swearing and shouting in public. Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) are being used to police "everyday behaviour", according to the Campaign for Freedom in Everyday Life.
8 May 2026
Graham Linehan's criminal damage conviction overturned
Graham Linehan has had his criminal damage conviction overturned following a confrontation with a trans activist outside the Battle of Ideas Festival. A welcome victory — but a case that should never have reached court in the first place.
6 May 2026
Nurseries are being urged to report 'racist toddlers' to the police under taxpayer-funded guidance backed by Labour
Welsh nurseries are being advised to report "racist toddlers" to the police under taxpayer-funded guidance backed by the Welsh Labour Government — and yes, even the snacks must be "diverse".
5 May 2026
Is it a crime to make fun of a keffiyeh?
A student is under police investigation for comparing a Palestine activist's headgear to a 'tea towel' — the latest example of Britain's de facto blasphemy law at work on university campuses.
22 April 2026
RAF cadet suspended after calling Islam the biggest threat to the UK
An RAF cadet has been suspended from officer training at RAF Cranwell after stating that Islam was the ‘greatest threat’ to Britain — further evidence that a de facto Islamic blasphemy law has become embedded within British institutions.
4 April 2026
Home Secretary calls time on NCHIs, but the battle for common sense policing continues
The Home Secretary has announced the abolition of non-crime hate incidents in England and Wales — a long-campaigned-for FSU victory — but the fight for common sense policing isn’t over yet.
16 March 2026
Police Federation drops legal challenge in free speech row involving two former police chiefs
The Police Federation of England and Wales has dropped its legal challenge against a High Court ruling which found PC Rick Prior and PS Richard Cooke were unlawfully treated.
2 March 2026
A lone female Met Police officer defends free speech – but Christian street preachers are being targeted
A lone Met Police officer went viral for defending a Christian street preacher's right to speak — but across Britain, heavy-handed policing of preachers is becoming the norm.
9 February 2026
Graham Linehan Gives Evidence to Congress on the UK's Free Speech Crisis
Graham Linehan told the US House Judiciary Committee that the UK's free speech crisis won't end until Keir Starmer leaves office — and urged America to act.
1 February 2026
Victory for Robert Moss as police drop Orwellian charges
Staffordshire Police drop Orwellian charges against Robert Moss — a fireman of 28 years — after he was arrested for criticising his former employer on Facebook.
1 February 2026
Free speech victory as High Court rules Police Federation unlawfully treated PC Prior and PC Cooke
The High Court has ruled that the Police Federation of England and Wales acted unlawfully in suspending two elected FSU members over public remarks on race and policing.
2 January 2026
FSU dealt with 211 cases where people got in trouble with the police or employers for social media posts in 2025
In 2025, the Free Speech Union handled 211 cases in which people got into trouble — either with their employer or the police — for words said on social media. Here are some of the most striking.
10 December 2025
Police arrest anti-abortionist campaigner at peaceful protest in Cambridge
7 December 2025
Stephen Bradbury acquitted at Derby Magistrates’ Court
27 November 2025
The CPS go after Hamit Coskun…again
25 November 2025
A tale of two halves for Graham Linehan
23 November 2025
Devon and Cornwall Police drop investigation into Katie Hopkins
17 November 2025
Police admit to wrongful arrest of parents over WhatsApp messages…
20 October 2025
No Further Action for Graham Linehan
8 September 2025
Change law so we can stop policing tweets, demands Met chief
16 August 2025
Police gag order against union activist overturned in free speech case
3 August 2025
Police advised councillors to suppress asylum status in child rape case, sources allege
29 July 2025
Britain is entering a new phase in the policing of digital dissent
28 July 2025
Councillor investigated for “stirring up racial hatred” after raising questions about migrant hotel scheme
16 July 2025
Police breached duty of impartiality by joining Pride, High Court rules
22 June 2025
“I just think it’s wrong”: Police officer tells Christian to stop preaching outside King’s Cross
23 May 2025
Police record Enoch Powell portrait in shop window as ‘non-crime hate incident’
13 May 2025
Police force reviews ‘thought-crime’ tweet arrest
11 May 2025
FSU backs legal action after ex-officer arrested over ‘thought crime’ tweet
1 May 2025
Allison Pearson cleared by press regulator after police complaint
6 April 2025
Police make 30 arrests a day for offensive online messages
2 April 2025
The increasingly odd story of Hertfordshire Police vs two primary school parents
1 April 2025
“Don’t question your councillor or we’ll arrest you,” police tell retired lecturer
29 March 2025
Police arrest parents who complained in school WhatsApp group
25 March 2025
Laurence Fox charged with sex offence for “sharing upskirting photo of TV presenter”
14 March 2025
No charges for east London Imam’s “destroy Jewish homes” sermon
14 March 2025
Retired Pastor faces court for preaching near Northern Ireland abortion clinic
11 March 2025
Police admit unlawful arrest of Republican protester at King’s Proclamation
9 March 2025
Police pressure media to withhold court evidence, sparking free speech row
28 February 2025
Vance clashes with Starmer over Britain’s record on free speech
26 February 2025
Award-winning journalist sues police over social media investigation
20 February 2025
Man jailed for sending “utterly deplorable” email to Jess Phillips MP
17 February 2025
FSU attempts to contact Koran burning suspect amid fears of ‘blasphemy law by the back door’
16 February 2025
Hundreds charged with online ‘speech crimes’ under Online Safety Act amid US free expression concerns
14 February 2025
JD Vance condemns UK’s crackdown on free speech
14 February 2025
Should free speech campaigners hope Andrew Gwynne is prosecuted?
3 February 2025
Man arrested after live video of Quran being burned in Manchester
3 February 2025
Manchester Police name Quran-burning suspect despite threat to life
30 January 2025
Home Office report says ‘two-tier’ policing is a right-wing myth (and calls for more use of NCHIs)
24 January 2025
Angela Rayner under pressure to apologise for dismissing terror concerns about Southport attacks
17 January 2025
Police inspector sacked for comparing Just Stop Oil to “special needs kids”
5 January 2025
Council ‘engagement officers’ issue more Asbo-style bans than police forces
19 December 2024
Landmark case for press freedom, as tribunal rules police unlawfully spied on journalists
4 December 2024
Police officer dismissed for gross misconduct
28 November 2024
Woman faces police interview after calling man she says threatened her family a ‘pikey’
26 November 2024
Non-crime hate incidents ‘dragging police into politics’
25 November 2024
Former Met chief calls for review of non-crime hate incidents
25 November 2024
When it comes to free speech, the UK is a third-class nation. How did we let this happen?
24 November 2024
Dirty pants on washing line recorded as non-crime hate incident by police
24 November 2024
Police log hate incident for refusal to shake hands in gender row
24 November 2024
Thin-Skinned German Politicians File More Than 1,300 Defamation Cases Against Citizens
24 November 2024
Yvette Cooper plans to expand non-crime hate incidents despite Pearson row
21 November 2024
Allison Pearson’s police interview ‘Stasi-like’, says Labour MP
21 November 2024
Carry on Kafka: this is our Brave New World
21 November 2024
Police drop investigation into FSU member Allison Pearson over tweet
21 November 2024
Police probes ‘should not trespass upon free speech’, chiefs told
20 November 2024
The police handle crimes against Jews strangely leniently
20 November 2024
Top prosecutor: I had no idea what non-crime hate incidents were
19 November 2024
Police should use ‘common sense’ when recording non-crime hate incidents, says Yvette Cooper
19 November 2024
The police must not be censors – it’s time to scrap NCHIs for good
18 November 2024
Tackle violent crime instead of tweets, Starmer urges police after Allison Pearson row
17 November 2024
Police get hate laws wrong 90pc of the time, says shadow home secretary
16 November 2024
Doctors and vicars accused of non-crime hate incidents
16 November 2024
I too had visit from police over tweet, says writer
16 November 2024
“Incompetent” Essex Police set up terror-style incident group for single Allison Pearson tweet
16 November 2024
Police drop ‘terrifying’ hate crime investigation into Maya Forstater
13 November 2024
FSU member and Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson faces investigation over alleged hate crime
13 November 2024
Musk leads growing backlash against police for investigating Allison Pearson
13 November 2024
Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson faces investigation over reported ‘non-crime hate incident’
16 October 2024
Police force quits Elon Musk’s X over concerns about “values”
8 October 2024
Misogynist schoolboys face terror unit probes despite damning report accusing Prevent of “losing its focus”
22 September 2024
Street preacher Hatun Tash wins payout after arrest for damaging her own Qur’an
18 September 2024
FSU member Bernadette Spofforth has case dropped after arrest for Southport killer tweet
16 September 2024
Police are incorrectly recording too many non-crime hate incidents, watchdog warns
29 August 2024
Labour and the return of Orwellian non-crime hate incidents
22 August 2024
Did Sir Kier Starmer just breach the Online Safety Act?
1 July 2024
FSU steps in to defend pub customers guilty of having a little too much to think
19 June 2024
Feminist campaigner accuses police of ‘bullying’ her over tweet about trans doctor
20 May 2024
Police accused of “trampling” over democracy after detectives put pressure on local Tory party to unseat councillor wrongly accused of ‘hate crime’
8 May 2024
RE Teacher suspended after saying Hamas ‘committed no crime’
24 April 2024
Thought Police: home visit for UK man who expressed anger online about Sydney Bishop being stabbed by Islamist
14 April 2024
Judge blocks police ban on ‘Hamas is Terrorist’ banner protester
4 April 2024
Conservative MSP writes to Police Scotland chief over political bias in ‘non-crime hate incident’ recording
4 April 2024
Tory MSP recorded for hate incident furious as police refuse to record NCHI against Humza Yousaf
27 March 2024
Could police have recorded your name in their sinister secret log of ‘hate incidents’?
27 March 2024
Police delete Tory MP’s ‘non-crime hate incident’ record following FSU intervention
26 March 2024
Policing of free speech must end
25 March 2024
Edinburgh fringe will be “busier than normal” for police due to SNP’s crackdown on free speech
25 March 2024
Police Scotland admits investigation policy risks helping criminals
19 March 2024
Artist reported to police for “hate crime” after criticising puberty blockers for children
12 March 2024
Police broke freedom of speech rules by logging ‘misgendering’ complaint against JK Rowling as hate incident
11 March 2024
Police force host training day by group that say gender-critical views are hate speech
8 March 2024
FSU helps street preacher fight back against “disproportionate” police gagging order
29 February 2024
Police assessing hate speech complaint against Lee Anderson after MP said Sadiq Khan controlled by Islamists
26 February 2024
Police officer to undergo ‘reflective training’ after arrest of autistic teenage girl who said she looked like her “lesbian nana”
20 February 2024
Grassroots police launch gender critical network to push back against “culture of fear” within forces across Britain
13 February 2024
Raft of new measures announced by government to crackdown on “disruptive” protests
12 February 2024
Pensioner threatened with £2,500 fine by local Council for “transphobic” gender critical posters on her front door
28 January 2024
Lawyer threatened with arrest under Public Order Act for driving van with anti-BBC slogans
24 January 2024
Is Britain a ‘free country’ anymore?
24 January 2024
Why won’t the police leave street preachers alone?
