TRIGGERnometry The Police Told Me to "Check My Thinking for a Tweet"
Jan 12, 2020
Harry Miller, a former police officer and co-founder of Fair Cop, shares his experiences of being investigated for a limerick on Twitter. He discusses the precarious balance between free speech and societal safety, particularly regarding transgender issues. The conversation dives into the complexities of the Gender Recognition Act and its ramifications on personal and professional life. Miller critiques the influence of ideologies on policing and emphasizes the necessity of open dialogue and judicial reform to protect freedom of expression.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Public Backlash and PCC Response
- After tweeting about the incident, Miller found support and discovered the police's actions infringed on his freedom of expression.
- The public bombarded Humberside police with limericks, and the PCC blocked Miller and others who contacted them.
Legal Action and Evidence Request
- Miller pursued legal action, requesting a meeting to address the issue, but the assistant chief constable accused him of transphobic tweets.
- Miller filed a complaint, requesting to see the 30 tweets cited by the police but initially, they refused his access.
30 Tweets Revealed
- Miller obtained the 30 tweets through a subject access request, revealing they were largely innocuous, including mentioning Jenny Murray.
- One tweet simply said "Her?" expressing doubt, which was deemed hate speech.
