Summary
- Former police officer Harry Miller wins legal victory after police investigated his “thinking” for sending a Tweet
- Court of Appeal rules police recording of “non-crime hate incidents” on national database to be “unlawful”
LONDON (20 December 2021) – The following statement may be attributed to Ryan Christopher, Director of ADF UK:
“ADF UK warmly welcomes the landmark ruling from the Court of Appeal that today upheld Harry Miller’s right to free speech. We were delighted to have supported this case, because nobody should be subjected to having a “non-crime hate incident” recorded on their record simply for expressing their opinion.
Harry was visited by police officers who purported to “check his thinking” and subsequently recorded him as having committed a “non-crime hate incident”, simply for tweeting a joke. Such police practices have a chilling effect on free speech in society that inhibits free and fair dialogue. The Court has recognised that recording of non-crime hate incidents violate Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects freedom of expression for all people.
We hope that this case will represent a turning point for free speech in the UK. Here in Britain and across Europe, we are committed to supporting the free expression of all people. Later this month, Finish MP Päivi Räsänen will face criminal trial for her own tweet – that of a Bible verse. We hope that her case will follow in the footsteps of Harry to fortify the value of free speech and open dialogue in a democratic society.”
To find out more about Päivi Räsänen’s case, visit www.adfinternational.org/paivi.
