The Metropolitan Police has announced that it will stop investigating “non-crime hate incidents” after it emerged that Father Ted creator Graham Linehan will face no further action over social media posts about transgender issues.
The 57-year-old Irish comedy writer was arrested at Heathrow Airport after flying in from Arizona in September by the Met Police on suspicion of inciting violence over three posts he had made on X.
The arrest sparked controversy, with Conservative politicians and Harry Potter author JK Rowling among those who criticised the arrest.
The police have informed my lawyers that I face no further action in respect of the arrest at Heathrow in September. After a successful hearing to get my bail conditions lifted (one which the police officer in charge of the case didn't even bother to attend) the Crown…
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) October 20, 2025
The head of the Met Police said at the time that officers are in “an impossible position” when dealing with statements made online.
Following Linehan’s announcement on Monday that the probe into his posts has been dropped, a spokesperson for the police force said: “We understand the concern around this case.
“The commissioner has been clear he doesn’t believe officers should be policing toxic culture war debates, with current laws and rules on inciting violence online leaving them in an impossible position.
“As a result, the Met will no longer investigate non-crime hate incidents. We believe this will provide clearer direction for officers, reduce ambiguity and enable them to focus on matters that meet the threshold for criminal investigations.”
