The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it will take no further action against Green Party leader Zack Polanski over his sharing of an image joking about beheading Nigel Farage, ruling the post “unlikely” to constitute a criminal offence. The Met has, however, referred the individual wearing the offensive T-shirt to Avon and Somerset Police, stating a crime “should be recorded” against him. The Telegraph has the story:
On Wednesday evening, the Metropolitan Police said it would take no further action against Mr Polanski for sharing the image, since it was “unlikely” to constitute a criminal offence.
The force added that Mr Polanski had not seen the image in question, and that any criminal investigation would apply to 130 people and organisations that also shared it.
However, the Met has referred the person wearing the T-shirt to Avon and Somerset Police, arguing that a crime “should be recorded” against them.
Any further action would be a matter for the West Country force.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “We absolutely understand the reaction to this image being shared online, particularly in the context of increasing threats towards politicians.
“We take the safety and security of those in public life, including politicians, very seriously. Where we identify threats, we take appropriate action and where there is evidence of offences we will investigate.
“While there will be people who will argue that those who shared the image in this Instagram post should be subject to criminal action, our review has concluded that on this occasion, the threshold is not met.
“We have spoken with those impacted to explain that decision-making and to provide reassurance around our ongoing commitment to their security and the additional support available.”
Worth reading in full.
Stop Press: Reform has accused the Met of ‘two tier policing’ over its refusal to investigate Zack Polanski. The Telegraph has more.
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My inner libertarian says this is the right decision, my inner cynic tells me if roles had been reversed it wouldn’t have gone this way…
Quite. Unequal treatment is the real issue, which seems to have eluded the FSU. A perfect opportunity to highlight bias now missed.
Hypothetical question:
If the T-shirt had depicted someone like Sadiq Khan, Kier Starmer, Andy Burnham or other high profile “progressive” politician with appropriate (none XTC) wording, and someone like Farage, Tice or other high profile “nationalist/Right wing” politician or public figure had shared it on social media, would the Met have made the same determination?
Probably best no-one tries testing that question!
I can’t say I’m surprised. Presumably Polanski will now be entitled to compensation for the distress caused to him by this furore?
A distinguished elderly lady suffers an horrific and fatal attack to her head and a Green Party supporter declares by obvious implication in words and a picture that they (“we”) plan to decapitate her close friend and colleague. This is not considered to be threatening behaviour and a breach of the Public Order Act. Broken Britain on stilts.
An Establishment spokesperson said that it’s important for the lower orders to understand that incitement to murder is only a crime if the intended victim is on the side of globalists, anti-whitists (including self-hating whites), anglophobes, and breast-whisperers.
Indeed
I don’t think however that we should discourage David Paulden from showing his true colours. If I ever have the misfortune to speak to a self confessed supporter of the Green Party I look forward to asking them what they think of their glorious leader’s judgement.
I wonder how many people who support the Green Party are aware of what it has become. Our next door neighbour has joined it because he thinks that it is still the party that is interested in ecology. The chap who does our garden is also similarly deluded,
I guess that’s the downside of universal suffrage