No action taken against Green Party leader Zack Polanski over controversial post
COPS ruled no action will be taken against Green Party leader Zack Polanski over an Instagram post showing an activist wearing a T-shirt calling for Nigel Farage’s decapitation, reports BritPanorama.
The post featured a man wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with a guillotine and the phrase, “We’re only making plans for Nigel,” which Polanski shared across his social media platforms before it was deleted.
The Metropolitan Police stated its review determined that the threshold for criminal action regarding the image shared online was not met. However, officers indicated that a crime should be recorded for the T-shirt itself.
The investigation has since been referred to Avon and Somerset Police, as the event where the T-shirt was worn took place in Bristol.
Reform UK leader Farage had reported Polanski to the police, accusing him of incitement to murder. A Reform UK spokesman expressed dissatisfaction with the Met’s decision to take no further action, stating, “Once again we see that we are living in two-tier Britain.”
The police considered potential telecommunications, public order, and incitement offences but concluded that sharing the image did not constitute a criminal offence. They noted that the contentious image was the 18th in a post containing 20 images and that Polanski had claimed he did not see it prior to agreeing to collaborate.
Once informed, the image was promptly removed from his account. The police reported that the post had been shared by around 130 other accounts in addition to further instances across other social media platforms.
The decision against taking further action was justified on the grounds that investigating the matter would have been disproportionate, given the absence of a criminal offence. A statement from the Met emphasized their commitment to ensuring the safety of public figures and their understanding of the public’s reaction to the image.
A Green Party spokesman confirmed the image was removed as soon as it was brought to Polanski’s attention, reiterating that he “unequivocally does not support this type of dangerous message.”
This incident highlights ongoing debates surrounding free speech and the boundaries of political expression in the UK, particularly given the heightened security concerns for politicians.
It reflects an evolving landscape where the implications of social media actions are under scrutiny, raising questions about accountability and public discourse in political spheres.
