Essex Police “acted fairly” throughout a hate crime investigation right into a social media put up by the Day by day Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson, a report states.
The Nationwide Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) regarded into the power’s actions after Pearson claimed she felt “bullied and threatened” when officers visited the columnist’s residence in Essex on Remembrance Sunday in November 2024.
The Essex power has beforehand defended its since-dropped investigation over an allegation {that a} social media put up, concerning the Hamas-Israel battle, incited racial hatred.
In his findings, Mark Hobrough, the NPCC’s hate crime lead and chief constable of Gwent, stated footage from a body-worn digital camera confirmed the investigating officer’s method to Pearson was “well mannered and carried out in an exemplary method”.
The unique investigation was sparked by a criticism by member of the general public {that a} social media put up within the early weeks of the Center East battle contained essential remarks concerning the police.
“The posted picture was more likely to mislead the reader into considering this was from a pro-Palestine rally, whether or not supposed to take action, or unintentionally so,” the report stated.
The report redacts particulars of the now-deleted put up, from 16 November 2023, which the BBC has seen.
It exhibits a picture of two cops standing subsequent to 2 males holding what seems to be a flag of the Pakistani political get together Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Pearson’s put up tags the Metropolitan Police alongside the phrases “how dare they?”.
It added: “Invited to pose for a photograph with pretty peaceable British Mates of Israel on Saturday police refused. Take a look at this lot smiling with the Jew haters.”
X added a discover to the put up stating that the picture was taken in Manchester, not London, and that it’s “not associated to Palestine”.
The report, which redacts Pearson’s identify, states an officer went to her residence and on his recording of the dialogue “clearly states he’s there to attempt to prepare a voluntary attendance interview, to help the investigation right into a criticism of inciting racial hatred”.
Pearson “started to problem the officer’s actions”, the report provides.
“She implied {that a} criticism can be made to the Chief Constable by the Telegraph newspaper.”
The timing of the go to, early on a Sunday morning, might be judged thoughtless, however the officer had already made a earlier, unanswered go to and was “diligently attempting to conduct his workload”, the report added.
“Our view is that the officer’s behaviour throughout this interplay was exemplary,” the report provides.
“He didn’t change into defensive or difficult and remained calm and well mannered all through the interplay.”
Talking to BBC Radio 4’s PM programme soon after the case was discontinued, Pearson stated she didn’t suppose her tweet was incorrect, and added: “I will not censor myself however I will likely be extra watchful sooner or later.”
The police go to to her residence was not “customary apply” and was “completely unacceptable”, she claimed.
She added: “Kemi Badenoch, the Tory chief and lots of different folks within the legislation, in politics, in regular walks of life, have stated that’s completely outrageous.”
