In the aftermath of a hate crime investigation surrounding a social media post by Daily Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson, the Essex Police have been deemed to have “acted reasonably,” according to a report released by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). The investigation, which gained attention after Pearson expressed feeling “bullied and threatened” when officers visited her home in Essex on Remembrance Sunday in November 2024, was defended by the Essex force over allegations of inciting racial hatred.
Mark Hobrough, the NPCC’s hate crime lead and chief constable of Gwent, reviewed the body-worn camera footage of the investigating officer’s approach to Pearson and concluded that it was “polite and carried out in an exemplary manner.” The original complaint stemmed from a social media post during the early stages of the Hamas-Israel conflict, with the report indicating concerns that the post may have misled readers regarding its context.
While the details of the now-deleted post from November 16, 2023, were redacted in the report, it depicted an image of police officers alongside individuals holding a flag linked to the Pakistani political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Pearson’s post, tagging the Metropolitan Police, expressed disbelief at their actions and implied bias by labeling individuals as “Jew haters.” Despite Pearson’s challenges during the officer’s visit to arrange a voluntary attendance interview, the report commended the officer’s professionalism and demeanor.
Following the discontinuation of the case, Pearson maintained her stance that her tweet was not in the wrong, emphasizing her commitment to not self-censorship while expressing a need for more caution in the future. She criticized the police visit to her home as “absolutely unacceptable” and denounced it as not being standard practice. Refuting any wrongdoing, Pearson highlighted the support she received from various individuals, including Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who deemed the police’s actions as “outrageous” in various spheres of life
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