Met chief backs officers in Linehan tweets arrest row

Comedy writer plans to sue police for breach of human rights

- BRYONY GOOCH

Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has backed officers as the force faces criticism over the arrest of comedy writer Graham Linehan, but has said the force should not be responsible for “policing toxic culture wars debates”.

Sir Mark said his officers are in an “impossible position” as he called for the law to be changed, and said the force will now only take action on social media abuse “where there is a clear risk of harm or disorder” as he broke his silence over the arrest of the Father Ted writer over anti-trans posts on social media.

Linehan claimed on his blog that he was arrested by five armed police officers when he arrived at Heathrow airport on Monday from Arizona over three tweets on the platform X. He has since announced plans to sue the Met for wrongful arrest and breach of his human rights.

Supported by the Free Speech Union founded by Sir Toby Young, Linehan said, according to The Times: “This was a horrible glimpse of the dystopian clown show that Britain has become. The FSU will support me by providing lawyers to advise on a claim against the Met Police for wrongful arrest and wrongful imprisonment in the hope that no one else is treated like a terrorist for speaking their mind on social media.”

Both Sir Keir Starmer and health secretary Wes Streeting have responded to the arrest, with the latter saying the Met should focus on “policing streets, not just policing tweets”.

At Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) yesterday, Sir Keir reiterated that the force should focus on the “most serious issues”, such as antisocial behaviour, knife crime and violence.