Police drop investigation into journalist Allison Pearson over tweet - as review to be launched over handling of case

21 November 2024, 18:42 | Updated: 21 November 2024, 18:57

Telegraph writer Allison Pearson.
Telegraph writer Allison Pearson. Picture: Getty

By Henry Moore

No further action will be taken against journalist Allison Pearson over a social media post she made last year.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Essex Police visited Pearson’s home amid an investigation into alleged incitement to racial hatred.

However, following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service the force will seek no further action against the Telegraph columnist.

A spokesperson from Essex Police said: "We're sometimes faced with allegations of crime where people have strong opposing views.

"That's why we work so hard to remain impartial and to investigate allegations, regardless of where they might lead."

Read more: 'We were not the Thought Police': Essex Police commissioner defends investigation into Telegraph journalist

Iain Duncan Smith on Kemi Badenoch's comments on the investigation into journalist Allison Pearson

The force added that the National Police Chiefs' Council hate crime lead has agreed to conduct an independent review into the force's handling of the matter.

The visit by Essex Police sparked a social media storm, with some online claiming the force was attempting to curb free speech.

the shadow home secretary called on the Government to change the guidelines on non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) in the wake of the case against Ms Pearson being dropped.

Chris Philp said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: "It should never have come to this. The police should not be policing thought or speech.

"Police time should only be spent on criminality or behaviour likely to lead imminently to criminality.

"I urge the Govt to urgently change the guidelines on NCHIs to stop it happening again."

Following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service the force will seek no further action against the journalist.
Following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service the force will seek no further action against the journalist. Picture: Alamy

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he was "delighted" the case has been dropped, adding that his party would "repeal" hate speech laws.

Speaking on Sunday, the Essex Police Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst rejected claims his force was acting like the “thought police.”

Mr Hirst told LBC: "Well, certainly we don't want thought police in this country. This is absolutely about having a free country, isn't it, really?

“And there's a tension here between freedom of speech and rule of law. Both of those are absolutely core pillars of our democracy.

“I just think it's perhaps worth bearing in mind though, in my police and crime plan, we don't talk about hate crime, we talk about antisocial behaviour, we talk about drug-driven crime, we talk about violence against women and girls, we talk about neighbourhood crimes.

“But nevertheless we can't go around ignoring crimes just because it's politically sensitive. And we perhaps need to just think about how our black and Asian communities are hearing this debate.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan 'will be extradited to Britain after their trial in Romania' following rape and human trafficking charges

Tristan and Andrew Tate 'will be extradited to Britain following Romanian trial' over rape and human trafficking charges

London, UK. 9th October 2024. Nick Read, CEO of Post Office Limited, arrives at Aldwych House as the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry continues. Credit: Vuk Valcic/Alamy Live News

Post Office agrees to compensate hundreds of sub-postmasters following data breach

Pupils’ enjoyment of school suffers ‘substantial decline’ in Year 7, study finds

Pupils’ enjoyment of school suffers ‘substantial decline’ in Year 7, study finds

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves speaks during a reception following the UK-EU summit, in London, Monday May 19, 2025. (Hannah McKay/Pool via AP)

Rachel Reeves U-turns on plans to cut ISA limit to £4k

Prescription drugs

Rise in drug-related deaths blamed for increase in UK mortality rate compared with other high-income countries

Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu powers to impressive win over Daria Kasatkina in Strasbourg

Ali Faris Muhammad, 26, died of his wounds after an “altercation” in Brent on Sunday, May 18.

Victim of fatal stabbing in Brent named by police after 'altercation' in north-west London

Donald Trump has reportedly held a phone call with Putin

Russia and Ukraine to 'immediately' start ceasefire talks as Zelenskyy pitches ‘high-level’ meeting of world leaders

Zak Starkey has also previously played with Oasis, Lightning Seeds and Johnny Marr

Zak Starkey sacked from The Who after on-stage row, but says he was told to pretend he quit

Konakli city near Alanya by the Mediterranean Sea, Turkey

Mystery as British tourist, 43, found dead under 'suspicious circumstances’ on Turkish hotel bathroom floor

Donald Trump, left, and Vladimir Putin, right, held a two hour phone call on Monday.

Trump says Russia and Ukraine will ‘immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire’ after two-hour call with Putin

Food distributed to Palestinians in Gaza under Israeli attacks

First aid trucks enter Gaza after 10-week blockade but UN warns it's just a 'drop in the ocean'

David Chester, 57, died in the blaze

Tributes paid to 'hero' father killed helping firefighters during blaze at former RAF base

One-legged dementia patient Donald Burgess was pepper sprayed and tasered three weeks before he died

Moment police pepper spray and taser amputee care home resident, 92, in his wheelchair shown in court

A third man has been arrested in connection with a string of arson attacks on Keir Starmer-linked properties.

Third person arrested over arson attacks at properties linked to Keir Starmer

Lulu with her dog Fudge at the launch 'Lulu's Mental Health Trust' in East London.

Lulu opens up about going into therapy as she says completing new memoir felt 'intense'