By GB News (World News) | Created at 2024-11-14 21:08:22 | Updated at 2024-11-23 05:23:11
1 week ago
Three of Britain's largest police forces were investigating journalist Allison Pearson over an undisclosed social media post, it has emerged.
The award-winning writer was visited by officers at her home on Remembrance Sunday and informed she was under investigation for allegedly stirring up racial hatred through a post made on X, formerly Twitter, last November.
Essex Police, which is leading the current stage of the investigation, has refused to reveal which specific post is being investigated or the identity of the complainant, despite officers requesting Pearson attend a voluntary interview.
The case has triggered significant backlash from senior MPs, legal experts, and even X owner Elon Musk.
Three police forces involved in Pearson probe over 'non-crime hate incident'
GETTY/GBN
However, it has since emerged that Essex Police was not the only force looking into the complaint, with the Metropolitan Police and Sussex Police also assessing the situation.
The Metropolitan Police initially received the report in November 2023 as a potential breach of the Malicious Communications Act.
The case was subsequently passed to Sussex Police, who marked it as both a possible non-crime hate incident and potential malicious communication.
The matter was eventually transferred to Essex Police, where Pearson resides, with two officers arriving at her home at 9.40am on Remembrance Sunday to inform her of the investigation.
Essex Police made two assessments of the complaint before launching a formal investigation under section 17 of the Public Order Act 1986, relating to material allegedly likely or intended to cause racial hatred.
A dispute has emerged over the classification of the case, with Essex Police stating it is being treated as a criminal matter rather than a non-crime hate incident.
However, Pearson maintains she was told on Sunday it was being treated as both a non-crime hate incident and an allegation of inciting racial hatred.
Former Home Secretary Priti Patel criticised Labour's apparent double standards on hate speech in the fallout of the incident.
Patel highlighted how Labour MPs were "getting away with posting hateful and insulting content with impunity" while journalists faced "sinister efforts" to curtail free speech.
She specifically referenced Labour MP Dawn Butler's decision to share a social media post that accused Tory leader Kemi Badenoch of representing "white supremacy in blackface".
Downing Street has confirmed the Home Office is reviewing how police record non-crime hate incidents to protect free speech.
However, the Prime Minister's spokesman maintained that recording such incidents remains important "where it is proportionate and necessary" to prevent serious future crimes.
Essex Police has since defended its approach to Pearson's probe, stating: "As a police force, we investigate matters which are reported to us without fear or favour, no matter who makes a report or to whom the incident concerns."
The force is currently awaiting confirmation of Pearson's available dates to attend a voluntary interview.
Pearson has indicated she is "minded to attend" the interview accompanied by her lawyer.
Speaking to GB News yesterday, the 64-year-old said: "I'm going to probably go in for an interview. The Free Speech Union, which is a brilliant organisation, is helping me, and they're giving me a solicitor.
"So if I have to go into the police station and have a voluntary interview. I'll go in and maybe then we'll be able to find out what I'm accused of, and then we'll see how it progresses."
