Graham Linehan won't be prosecuted over anti-trans tweets | But writer vows to 'hold officers accountable' over his Heathrow arrest © PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Graham Linehan won't be prosecuted over anti-trans tweets

But writer vows to 'hold officers accountable' over his Heathrow arrest

Graham Linehan is to face no further action over the anti-trans tweets that got him arrested at Heathrow Airport. 

London’s Metropolitan Police today announced it would not press charges against the Father Ted writer – adding that it would no longer investigate any of the 'non-crime hate incidents that have proved such a political hot potato.

However they told Linehan’s lawyer: ‘This decision may be reconsidered if further evidence or information comes to light’.

His arrested triggered a free speech backlash in the UK and the US, and the Met now says its officers should not be policing ‘toxic culture war debates’.

They 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.’

Linehan was originally told to stay off social media as part of his bail conditions but this was quickly and successfully challenged. 

Writing on X, the 57-year-old said: ‘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 Prosecution Service has dropped the case. With the aid of the Free Speech Union, I still aim to hold the police accountable for what is only the latest attempt to silence and suppress gender critical voices on behalf of dangerous and disturbed men.’

Linehan had been arrested by five officers at Heathrow –who were armed as a matter of course as part of their job patrolling the airport.

One of the tweets said to have constituted a possible offensive said:  ‘If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and, if all else fails, punch him in the balls.’

A second tweet, on April 19, was a picture of a trans rally with the caption: "‘photo you can smell.’

The third was a follow-up to that tweet, which read: ‘I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. Fuck em.’

Non-crime hate incidents are acts perceived to be motivated by prejudice and have been recorded against the alleged perpetrator’s record even though they fall short of being a criminal offence. Critics say this has led to police effectively monitoring opinion, with a stifling effect on legitimate  free speech.

Linehan has claimed that rather than inciting violence, he was making a ‘bad joke’ in suggesting trans women should be punched.

The writer is involved in a separate court case in which he is accused of harassing teenage trans campaigner  Sophia Brooks by posting abusive comments about her on social media last October. as well as causing £369 worth of damage to her iPhone when they clashed at a conference.

Linehan – who repeatedly posted on X calling Ms Brooks, now 18, ‘sociopathic’ and a ‘domestic terrorist’ – has denied the charges and is due to reappear in front of Westminster magistrates on October 29.

Read the latest report on that case here.

Published: 20 Oct 2025

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