Female Journalists Rally Around Allison Pearson Amid Fears for Press Freedom

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The investigation into journalist Allison Pearson has sparked a wave of support among female journalists, who warn they could face similar scrutiny over their work or social media posts. Pearson, a columnist for *The Telegraph*, is currently under investigation by three police forces for a now-deleted tweet. The controversy has ignited broader discussions about freedom of expression and the role of the police in regulating speech.  

 

 

On Remembrance Sunday, Pearson was visited at her home by Essex Police. They informed her of a complaint related to her tweet but declined to provide details about the alleged offense or the identity of the complainant. This incident has drawn criticism from fellow journalists, including *Daily Mail* columnist Sarah Vine, who described the situation as a "frightening moment for press freedom."  

 

 

Vine remarked on the pressures faced by journalists, particularly women, saying: “Journalists, and especially female journalists, are used to receiving a lot of abuse. It’s not easy, but it comes with the territory. We console ourselves with the thought that the police and responsible authorities have our back. What has happened to @AllisonPearson has shown that is no longer true. It’s a frightening moment for press freedom. The fact that @Keir_Starmer seems okay with it is even more chilling.”  

 

 

*Daily Mail* journalist Rachel Johnson, the sister of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, echoed these concerns. Sharing an article written by her brother in Pearson’s defense, she stated: “Hear hear – and so say all of us standing with @AllisonPearson. They messed with the wrong Welshwoman this time, but any one of us could be next.”  

 

 

The investigation centers on whether Pearson’s tweet constituted a Non-Crime Hate Incident (NCHI) or violated the Malicious Communications Act. Although NCHIs are not criminal offenses, they are recorded by police. Essex Police recently clarified that Pearson is now being investigated under section 17 of the Public Order Act for allegedly stirring up racial hatred with a post made in November last year.  

 

The controversy has prompted a government review of how police handle NCHIs. Donna Jones, the former chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, criticized the approach, arguing that police should not be engaging with individuals unless a crime has been committed. “The police should not be going to somebody’s home if they have not committed a crime,” Jones stated. She added, “If it is a non-crime, it should stop there. Yes, collect the data, feed it into the Home Office, but going further only wastes police resources.”  

 

The sentiment was shared by Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, who told *The Telegraph*: “We need to stop this behavior of people wasting police time on trivial incidents because they don’t like something, as if they’re in a nursery.” Other politicians, including Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, and Suella Braverman, former home secretary, have voiced similar frustrations with the policing of speech.  

 

Renowned barrister Geoffrey Robertson KC also criticized the investigation, calling it “a waste of public money.” The incident, he suggested, illustrates the need for a reassessment of priorities in policing.  

 

As the debate over Pearson’s case continues, the outpouring of support highlights concerns among female journalists about the implications for press freedom. “Any one of us could be next,” Rachel Johnson warned, a sentiment that resonates widely in a profession increasingly under scrutiny for expressing contentious views.

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2024-11-18