Graham Linehan's arrest at Heathrow Airport in September 2025 sparked outrage among free speech advocates and raised questions about the Metropolitan Police's handling of non-crime hate incidents. The comedian and writer, who was detained by five armed officers on suspicion of inciting hatred under the Public Order Act as he returned from Arizona, has now received a £25,000 settlement from the Met alongside a second apology for the "considerable distress" caused.
During his arrest, Mr Linehan was taken to hospital after officers expressed concern about his blood pressure. Although his condition was described by police as neither life-threatening nor life-changing, the incident has left lasting repercussions. The probe into Mr Linehan's alleged hate speech was subsequently dropped following a significant policy shift announced by the Metropolitan Police in October 2025: that non-crime hate incidents would no longer be investigated.
The decision to cease investigating these incidents was designed to allow officers to focus on matters meeting the threshold for criminal investigations. Non-crime hate incidents are alleged acts perceived to be motivated by hostility or prejudice towards individuals with specific characteristics, such as race or transgender identity. They are recorded for data collection purposes but do not constitute a criminal offence.
Mr Linehan had maintained that he did not regret the content of his tweets, which included strong views on trans-identified males in female-only spaces and a group of protesters. His civil claim was supported by the Free Speech Union, with Lord Toby Young, the group's general secretary, reiterating their view that Mr Linehan should not have been arrested.
This development follows a separate case two months prior where Mr Linehan had his conviction for damaging a transgender activist's mobile phone overturned. The settlement and apology are seen as a vindication of sorts for the writer, who has faced intense scrutiny over his views on trans issues.