UK Health Secretary Urges Police Priorities Review After Graham Linehan Arrest

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has emphasized the need to reconsider police priorities and potentially revise legislation following the arrest of television writer Graham Linehan over gender-critical tweets. Linehan was detained by five armed officers at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of inciting violence through social media posts, sparking criticism from public figures including JK Rowling and Elon Musk. Streeting highlighted that the police enforce laws passed by Parliament and suggested that current legal frameworks may be creating unintended burdens on law enforcement, urging legislators to ensure police focus on street safety rather than policing online speech. He also called for a broader debate on free speech laws in Britain, acknowledging that well-intentioned legislation can have unforeseen consequences. The Government’s stated priorities remain tackling serious street crimes such as knife violence and anti-social behaviour. Meanwhile, Green Party leader Zack Polanski commented on the arrest, noting the contrast between the police response to Linehan and general street crime enforcement.