The long arm of the Law

[Ridgemont]

Some at PH Towers maybe familiar with the Norths (Richard and Pete) who featured heavily during the Brexit debates via Richard North s blog (eureferendum.com).

Since then they have continued posting via Twitter and https://www.turbulenttimes.co.uk/ on a variety of subjects primarily on immigration and politics.

At 9pm last night the police turned up at Pete North s house and arrested him for an alleged hate crime.

This involved him being taken to a police station and interviewed without representation for having *reposted* an anti Palestinian meme (I m slightly intrigued whether or not I will have similar repercussions by posting it here).

https://x.com/FUDdaily/status/1966887249838289129


He was eventually released on bail at 1.30am this morning conditional on surrendering on the 21st December when the CPS will confirm apparently whether or not he will be charged.

https://www.turbulenttimes.co.uk/news/front-page/p...

I am staggered.


What the hell is happening in this country? On the same day as the Digital ID announcement.
Are we actually living in a functioning democracy with freedom of speech? I’m not sure I recognise this country anymore.

Edited by Ridgemont on Friday 26th September 06:01

[stuckmojo]

Insane.

Utterly insane.

I have joined the Free speech union in case I post something vaguely antagonistic and I suffer the same level of harassment.

[Rufus Stone]

Ridgemont said:

Are we actually living in a functioning democracy with freedom of speech? I m not sure I recognise this country anymore.

There's your misunderstanding. Speech has never been free from consequences.

[Ridgemont]

Rufus Stone said:

Ridgemont said:

Are we actually living in a functioning democracy with freedom of speech? I m not sure I recognise this country anymore.

There's your misunderstanding. Speech has never been free from consequences.

Consequences = arrest?

That doesn’t sound remotely like ‘free’ at all.
But you carry on with your ‘consequences’ autodrivel.

As per the recent Kimmel debacle, one of these days the basic comprehension will percolate down that this isn’t a ‘one side winning over the other’ issue. Freedom of speech and freedom of ‘consequences’ cuts both ways.

Do you really not engage a synapses of your brain to consider whether not ‘consequence’ via arrest and possible charge is actually ‘freedom of speech’?

[Rufus Stone]

Ridgemont said:

Do you really not engage a synapses of your brain to consider whether not consequence via arrest and possible charge is actually freedom of speech ?

Are you suggesting everyone should be able to say whatever they want wherever they want whenever they want?

[stuckmojo]

Rufus Stone said:

There's your misunderstanding. Speech has never been free from consequences.

Like clockwork. Here you are defending the indefensible.

[Ian Geary]

It has similarities to the Graham Lindham case

The met police boss was making out in that case the police cannot choose which reported crimes they investigate (implying they have to investigate them all, in particular alledged hate crimes)

We all know there are limits on our "free" behaviour (unless you are deep into freeman of the land stuff)

The courts, and ultimately Parliament get to decide that, which is better than doing it on social media I think.

The meme is definately offensive to muslims, and a hate crime is one where someone shows hostility based on race. Though guidance in 2023 (according to google) says police will prioritise free speech, and wouldn't act just because someone is offended.

Ultimately the cps will decide if beijg offensive is the same as being hostile, which is what they're doing.


The interview without representation- never been arrested, but from my knowledge of plod (gained from watchng The Bill mostly) it is required to have representation available.

The timing of the arrest might have made that hard, but that's on the police. I suspect more will come out if this is true (and it's not some misunderstanding about wanting a specific lawyer who wasn't available )


The release at 1:30am sounds annoying I used to live near a custody suite with trains/ buses, but none ran at night. The police will say it takes the time it takes i suppose.

[Cold]

Starmer tells me we have free speech and if anyone disagrees with that statement he'll have them arrested.

[borcy]

The standard for retweeting is probably best described as would i walk down the street with this tweet on banner if someone else had made the banner?

[Derek Smith]

Ian Geary said:

Ultimately the cps will decide if beijg offensive is the same as being hostile, which is what they're doing.

The interview without representation- never been arrested, but from my knowledge of plod (gained from watchng The Bill mostly) it is required to have representation available.

The timing of the arrest might have made that hard, but that's on the police. I suspect more will come out if this is true (and it's not some misunderstanding about wanting a specific lawyer who wasn't available )

The release at 1:30am sounds annoying I used to live near a custody suite with trains/ buses, but none ran at night. The police will say it takes the time it takes i suppose.

CPS won't decide. That's down to the courts. All the CPS does is decide if there's a case to answer.

Everyone (with minor exceptions) is told they have the right to legal advice, with a free option. The advisor may give this advice over the phone.

Timing of arrest is normally done for reasons, and as this is rather high profile, I would assume the reasons would be documented.

My force allowed released prisoners to call taxis using force phones.

[Ridgemont]

Well Pete has been posting about it


Phone recording of police turning up

https://x.com/FUDdaily/status/1971396341994791315


Substack related post

https://open.substack.com/pub/petenorth/p/last-nig...

[Richard-390a0]

It wasn't these two officers again was it lol!?!

[BikeBikeBIke]

Ridgemont said:

Well Pete has been posting about it


Phone recording of police turning up

https://x.com/FUDdaily/status/1971396341994791315


Substack related post

https://open.substack.com/pub/petenorth/p/last-nig...

I assumed this was exaggerated, turns out not.

Rozzer: "You posted something on the Internet they didn't appreciate."

I quite liked the fact that he made it clear he would be using this to maximise publicity. They can't reasonably complain now when he does just that.

[Tom1312]

Police duty bound to investigate possible crime shocker....

Ridgemont said:

This involved him being taken to a police station and interviewed without representation

Edited by Ridgemont on Friday 26th September 06:01

That would have been as a result of him choosing not to use either the duty solicitor or their own brief. Don't believe the hype.

That little snippet alone tells me that he's probably really pleased he's now got another avenue of outrage to mine from his followers.

[GetCarter]

It's absolutely astonishing that people here think it's okay to say whatever you want without consequences.

100 years ago, by law, if you shouted 'fire' in a crowded theatre, you would face serious charges.

Today is no different. Words have meaning and consiquences.

Get a grip guys and stop following the crowd.

[wiggy001]

Tom1312 said:

Police duty bound to investigate possible crime shocker....

Unfortunately not what most people would consider a possible crime worthy of police time. Including the poor sod that had to arrest him.

[Yahonza]

Keeps the stats up for the police though - got to look at the positives here.

[Cold]

wiggy001 said:

Tom1312 said:

Police duty bound to investigate possible crime shocker....

Unfortunately not what most people would consider a possible crime worthy of police time. Including the poor sod that had to arrest him.

Police prioritising hurty words on the internet - again - shocker...

[768]

GetCarter said:

It's absolutely astonishing that people here think it's okay to say whatever you want without consequences.

100 years ago, by law, if you shouted 'fire' in a crowded theatre, you would face serious charges.

Today is no different. Words have meaning and consiquences.

Get a grip guys and stop following the crowd.

Today, they'll get you out of bed to arrest you for something that was never actually said, but merely the clicking of a button on a computer screen months before.

It's insane.

[768]

One of the very worst things is that they won't even say what the specific action was that warranted the arrest.