Police investigate columnist for 'inciting racial hatred'

Essex Police are investigating an alleged crime of inciting racial hatred by The Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson after she published a message on X/Twitter labelling protesters as "Jew haters".

- ALEX CROFT

Pearson said police knocked on her door on Remembrance Sunday and informed her she was being investigated for alleged incitement of racial hatred.

Ms Pearson said she initially thought she heard the police at her door say they were investigating a “non-crime hate incident”. Essex Police dispute this and said the officers, who had made attempts to contact Ms Pearson before the visit, were clear the alleged offence was inciting racial hatred.

Her claims have gained widespread attention and attracted significant criticism towards Essex Police, including from the leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch, who said the police should stop “wasting police time on trivial incidents”.