UK Met Police chief calls for law change after arrest of Graham Linehan over anti-trans posts

The Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley has responded to criticism of his force's arrest of Father Ted writer and The IT Crowd creator Graham Linehan over anti-trans posts by stating that officers “should not be policing toxic culture war debates.” 

"I don't believe we should be policing toxic culture wars debates and officers are currently in an impossible position." 

He has recognised "concern caused by such incidents given differing perspectives on the balance between free speech and the risks of inciting violence in the real world" and has offered to provide suggestions to the Home Office about clarifying the law and policy within weeks.

"Greater clarity and common sense would enable us to limit the resources we dedicate to tackling online statements to those cases creating real threats in the real world," he said. 

"We will be putting in place a more stringent triaging process to make sure only the most serious cases are taken forward in future - where there is a clear risk of harm or disorder."

His comments come after Linehan, who also co-created the beloved comedy show Black Books and is a vocal critic of the trans-rights movement, said that he was arrested at Heathrow Airport in relation to posts about trans people on X.  

In one of his posts, Linehan said: "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." 

The 57-year-old Irish comedy writer was arrested under the Public Order Act on suspicion of inciting violence, was detained by five armed officers and questioned over his posts.  

In a statement, the force said: "After being taken to police custody, officers became concerned for his health and he was taken to hospital. His condition is neither life-threatening nor life-changing.”

Linehan’s arrest has drawn criticism, prompted backlash over police resources and sparked heated debate in the UK over free speech.  

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said that "sending five officers to arrest a man for a tweet isn't policing, it's politics".

“Britain used to be known for its sense of humour," said Conservative MP Claire Coutinho. “Now the police are arresting people for making jokes.” She added: “You live in a society? Occasionally you’re going to be offended. That’s how it works.” 

Conservative MP Sir James Cleverly stated that the arrest looked like a “real overreaction” to what was “self-evidently a joke”, while shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said the incident was “a complete waste of police time.”

Controversial Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who regularly shares her views on women's rights in relation to transgender rights on social media, also shared her stance, posting on X: "What the f*ck has the UK become? This is totalitarianism. Utterly deplorable."

Responding to the accusation that the UK was now a "totalitarian" state, Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesperson said: "No.”

The arrest has also split opinions online:

Linehan has been bailed under investigation and has not been charged with an offence.

He also faces a charge of harassment related to a separate incident in which he is accused of harassing a transgender woman and damaging her phone. He has denied the charge and is due to appear in court today.