"The health secretary said such laws had put "more expectation on police" and "diluted the focus and priorities of the public", adding "that's obviously something we need to look at". Streeting told the BBC it was "very easy for people to criticise police" who were only enforcing laws that had been passed by MPs, saying ministers wanted police to focus on street crime rather than posts on social media."
"A No 10 spokesperson added: "The prime minister and the home secretary have been clear about where their priorities for crime and policing are, and that's tackling anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, street crime, as well as reducing serious violent crimes like knife crime and violence against women." When asked about the Linehan case on the BBC's Today programme, Streeting echoed those words. "As the prime minister and home secretary have been clear, we want the police to focus on policing streets rather than tweets," the health secretary said. "But the thing we are mindful of, as a government that backs the police to keep us safe, is that police are there to enforce the laws that we as Parliament legislate for.""
Wes Streeting said ministers may need to look at laws concerning online speech after the arrest of comedian Graham Linehan at Heathrow on suspicion of inciting violence over posts on X. Streeting said layered legislation had placed "more expectation on police" and "diluted the focus and priorities of the public", and that police should prioritise street crime over social-media posts. The arrest prompted backlash from figures including JK Rowling and opposition parties who called it an "absurd infringement of free speech". No 10 set policing priorities as tackling anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, street crime and serious violent crimes. Streeting stressed police still must enforce laws made by Parliament.
Read at www.bbc.com
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