US EditionRetired police officer arrested over ‘thought crime’ tweet
- Julian Foulkes, a 71-year-old retired Kent special constable, was handcuffed and detained at his home in November 2023 over a tweet warning about anti-Semitism.
- His arrest followed a referral from the Metropolitan Police Intelligence Command concerned about the online content, amid heightened tensions after October Hamas attacks.
- Six officers searched Foulkes's home, seized electronic devices, and questioned him for eight hours on suspicion of malicious communications related to a post replying to a pro-Palestinian account.
- Kent Police admitted the caution issued against Foulkes was a mistake and deleted it, with officials and critics condemning the arrest as a misuse of police resources and an attack on free speech.
- The case highlights concerns about policing priorities, freedom of expression erosion, and the need for forces to focus on core crimes rather than perceived thought offences.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Free speech is fine – until of course someone says they support Brexit
Should I be nervous about the contents of my bookshelves? It seems they might be something the police believe to be of legitimate investigatory interest.That at least was the experience of Julian Foulkes, a former Special Constable, whose home was raided by six Kent Police officers, who handcuffed him on his doorstep and wrongfully issued him with a caution over a tweet in November 2023, on the advice of the Met’s Intelligence Command.In body ca…
Retired cop suing after being arrested for 'thought crime' post on X · American Wire News
A retired British police officer has sued his former employer for arresting him over a veritable “thought crime.” In the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack in Israel, retired Special Constable Julian Foulkes, now 71, published a post to X raising concerns about the rising antisemitism in the U.K. “One step away from storming Heathrow [Airport] looking for Jewish arrivals …,” he tweeted in response to a pro-Palestinian activist threatening t…
Retired Cop Arrested Over Tweet in Stasi-Style Raid.
PULSE POINTS:What Happened: Police in the United Kingdom arrested a retired police officer for posts on X (formerly Twitter), held him for eight hours, but admitted later he had not committed a crime. Who’s Involved: British police, former special constable Julian Foulkes, the British government. Where & When: The raid and arrest occurred in November 2023, but bodycam footage of the raid was released on May 10. Key Quote: “Nobody is really safe…
In Britain the “Thought Crime” Is Real
If you’re tired of censorship and surveillance, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. By Cam Wakefield A pensioner faced a raid not for plotting mayhem, but for posting a sarcastic tweet fewer than 30 people saw It takes a very special kind of madness to send six baton-wielding, pepper-spray-toting police officers to arrest a 71-year-old man in his slippers. But here we are: welcome to Britain 2025, where tweeting the wrong opinion is treated with the …
Woke police apologise after man nicked for criticising pro-Palestinian activist
WOKE police chiefs had to apologise to an ex-cop who was arrested for a social media comment criticising a pro-Palestinian activist. Julian Foulkes, 71, was briefly handcuffed after six officers with batons turned up. AlamyJulian Foulkes arrested for a social media comment criticising a pro-Palestinian activist[/caption] He said: “Free speech is clearly under attack.” The police were seen in bodycam footage remarking that some of his literature …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 83% of the sources lean Right
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
Ownership
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage
