Police watchdog orders Met to reinvestigate Linehan complaint

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 22:44 · Archive

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has ordered the Metropolitan Police to reinvestigate its handling of a complaint by comedy writer Graham Linehan.

Graham Linehan, co-creator of the television comedy Father Ted, was detained and questioned by armed Metropolitan Police officers at Heathrow airport in September 2025. The arrest followed social media posts he had made six months earlier expressing gender-critical views.

Linehan subsequently lodged a complaint with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), arguing the arrest was unlawful and an abuse of his rights to freedom of expression. The Met reviewed the complaint but Linehan challenged that review.

In October 2026, the IOPC found the Met's handling of the complaint was 'not reasonable and proportionate' and has directed the force to reinvestigate a number of allegations, including specifically examining whether Linehan was discriminated against due to his gender-critical beliefs. The Metropolitan Police has already agreed to pay Linehan £25,000 in compensation.

How it is being reported

• Graham Linehan police row takes new twist as Met Police ordered to re-open probe into handling of free speech caseThe Metropolitan Police has been ordered to reinvestigate a complaint made by Father Ted creator Graham Linehan, following his arrest at Heathrow Airport in 2025. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has concluded that the Met's own review of the handling of Mr Linehan's case "did not go far enough", describing its findings as "not reasonable and proportionate". Mr Linehan was arrested at Heathrow Airport in September 2025 over gender-critical social media posts. He then filed a complaint with the IOPC about the arrest, which argued it was both unlawful and an abuse of his rights…GB News · 14 Oct, 22:32
• Comedian Graham Linehan may have been discriminated against by police because of his gender-critical views, watchdog saysThe comedy writer was detained and questioned by armed Metropolitan Police officers at Heathrow airport last year over anti-transgender comments he had posted on social media.Daily Mail · 14 Oct, 17:22

In this story: Graham Linehan · Metropolitan Police · Independent Office for Police Conduct · Heathrow · Lynsay Watson

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