Now every force must stop policing our free speech

TRANS TWEETS: Met police have dropped their investigation into Graham Linehan

- Tim Newark Political Commentator

TRANS TWEETS: Met police have dropped their investigation into Graham Linehan

(Tim Newark Political Commentator)

NOW that Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has confirmed non-crime hate incidents will no longer be investigated by his officers, this major victory for free speech must be rolled out across the UK to prevent further wastage of valuable police time an estimated 666,000 hours and counting.

Scotland Yard's decision comes hot on the heels of Father Ted creator Graham Linehan's vindication after he confirmed on Monday that no charges would be brought against him following his arrest over tweets he made about trans issues.

Linehan's posts were one of 133,000 non-crime hate incidents logged by the police over recent years, which have constrained free speech in our country.

Returning from the US last month, where many Americans regard Linehan as a free speech champion, the comedy writer was detained by five officers on suspicion of "inciting violence".