Police taking ‘no further action’ against Graham Linehan after arrest over trans posts

FATHER TED CREATOR Graham Linehan has said that police are taking “no further action” against him after his arrest at Heathrow Airport last month on suspicion of inciting violence.

Posting on social media platform X this afternoon, Linehan said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had dropped the case, adding that he plans to sue the UK’s police force for wrongful arrest and breach of his human rights.

Linehan was detained at Heathrow in September by five armed officers and questioned over a suspected public order offence linked to three posts on social media.

The arrest prompted widespread criticism, with Harry Potter author JK Rowling among those expressing outrage.

Linehan said on Monday he was informed that police would not be taking the matter further.

He wrote: “The police have informed my lawyers that I face no further action in respect of the arrest at Heathrow in September.

“After a successful hearing to get my bail conditions lifted (one which the police officer in charge of the case didn’t even bother to attend) the Crown Prosecution Service has dropped the case.”

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson confirmed this afternoon that, following a “careful review” of the case, “we have decided that no further action should be taken in relation to a man in his 50s who was arrested on 1 September 2025.”

Last week, Westminster Magistrates Court lifted Linehan’s bail conditions after an application argued they were too vague.

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One of the three tweets cited by police as evidence of an alleged crime read: “If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.”

Another was a photo of a trans-rights protest with the caption, “a photo you can smell,” followed by: “I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** em.”

In his statement today, Linehan added that he will be aiming to “hold the police accountable” with the aid of campaign group Free Speech Union.

The Free Speech Union said that it plans to sue the Metropolitan Police for “wrongful arrest”.

“We’ve instructed a top flight team of lawyers to sue the Met for wrongful arrest, among other things,” it said in a statement on X.

“After weeks of police bail – subject to unlawful conditions, including a ban on posting on X – officers have told [Linehan] that prosecutors say there isn’t sufficient evidence to support any charges,” the campaign group added.

The September arrest occurred just days before Linehan was due in court on charges of harassing a transgender woman.

He denies one count of harassing activist Sophia Brooks on social media between 11 and 27 October last year, as well as a charge of criminal damage to their mobile phone in October 2024.

The trial was adjourned and is scheduled to resume on 29 October.

The Metropolitan Police have been contacted for comment.

With reporting by Press Association

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