Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jul 01, 2025

Retired British police officer arrested over ‘thought crime’ tweet

Julian Foulkes faced police scrutiny after a tweet regarding anti-Semitism following pro-Palestinian marches, highlighting ongoing tensions in the UK regarding free speech.
Julian Foulkes, a retired special constable from Gillingham, Kent, was arrested at his home over a social media post that expressed concerns about anti-Semitism in light of recent pro-Palestinian marches in the UK.

The incident occurred in November 2023, shortly after pro-Palestinian demonstrations that sparked widespread debates about free speech and hate crimes in Britain.

Foulkes's arrest involved six officers from Kent Police, the force he had served for a decade.

During the arrest, police reviewed his personal library, which included works by authors such as Douglas Murray and issues of The Spectator.

Officers scrutinized a shopping list from his wife, which included items like bleach and gloves, initially suspecting it could suggest malicious intent.

Footage captured by body-worn cameras showed police expressing concern over the contents of Foulkes's home, which they described as containing "very Brexity things."



The retired officer reported that the incident began after he responded to a tweet on X (formerly Twitter) from an account that advocated pro-Palestinian views.

His response warned about the potential escalation of anti-Semitic actions, a message he believed could be misunderstood.

Following the tweet, the Metropolitan Police Intelligence Command referred his post to Kent Police, indicating perceived threats around the online content.

Foulkes reported feeling astonished when officers arrived at his home, particularly given his history in law enforcement.

After being handcuffed and detained for eight hours, Foulkes was interrogated under the Malicious Communications Act.

He was ultimately issued a caution, which was expunged by Kent Police earlier this week after they acknowledged it was inappropriate in the circumstances.

A police spokesperson confirmed that a review would be conducted to identify lessons learned from the incident.

Foulkes highlighted the broader implications of such police actions on freedom of expression in the UK, stating, "I never saw anything like this when I was in the force." His case is among several recent instances where police have intervened in social media communications, including incidents involving parents being questioned over school complaints and a journalist being visited after expressing gender-critical views.

In defense of Foulkes, a spokesperson from the Home Office noted that the incident occurred under the previous government, emphasizing the current administration's focus on priority policing matters, including community safety and violence reduction initiatives.

As the debate continues regarding the policing of online speech, Foulkes's experience raises significant questions about the balance between safeguarding public order and protecting individual rights to freedom of expression.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
×