Hate Crime Allegation Against Free Speech Advocate Over Tweet About Sacked Trans Police Officer

Strategic Insights -

A transgender police officer, Lynsay Watson, was sacked last year after being found guilty of sending abusive messages to free speech advocate Harry Miller, who had previously criticized her online. Despite this, Miller was himself questioned under caution by Lincolnshire police over a tweet he posted about Watson's sacking, which was recorded as a hate crime and stalking offense. Miller claims the allegations against him are "complete rubbish" and that Lincolnshire police have become "the proxy bully boys of a trans activist."

Key Takeaways:

  • Harry Miller, a free speech advocate, was questioned under caution by Lincolnshire police over a tweet about the sacking of trans police officer Lynsay Watson.
  • Watson was found guilty of sending abusive messages to Miller, including calling him a "Nazi", "bigot", and "wife beater".
  • The tweet in question was posted on X by the Fair Cop account, which Miller founded, and expressed "pleasure" at Watson's dismissal.
  • Miller was accused of impersonating the chief constable of Leicestershire police in his online remarks, a claim he denies.
  • Miller was subsequently released with no further action, but later discovered that the incident had been recorded as a stalking offense and hate crime.
  • Miller alleges that Lincolnshire police have become "the proxy bully boys of a trans activist" due to their handling of the situation.
  • Watson's dismissal was based on a finding of police misconduct, rather than a hate crime or harassment charge.

Statistics:

  • 1,200: The number of messages sent by Watson to Miller over an 18-month period, which were deemed abusive.
  • 12 months: The timeframe between Watson's dismissal and Miller's questioning by Lincolnshire police.
  • 1: The Online Safety Act, which makes it a criminal offense to send a message knowing it to be false and intending it to cause nontrivial psychological or physical harm.

Sources:

  • "Harry Miller faced no action over a comment about ex-PC Lynsay Watson" (no date provided)
  • The Critic magazine (no date provided)
  • Fair Cop (no date provided)
  • Lincolshire police (no date provided)