DEVELOPING: Met Police Abruptly Drops Probe into Non-Crime Hate Incidents Amid Controversy

Breaking News: Met Police Abruptly Drops Probe into Non-Crime Hate Incidents Amid Controversy The Metropolitan Police has announced it will no longer investigate non-crime hate incidents, citing a need for officers to focus on "matters that meet the threshold for criminal investigations". This decision comes as the force drops its probe into Father Ted creator Graham Linehan, who was arrested at Heathrow Airport last month on suspicion of inciting violence online. The Met's sudden change in policy has sparked immediate controversy, with critics accusing the police of caving to pressure from politicians and public figures. The Crown Prosecution Service had already decided no further action would be taken against Mr Linehan following a review of evidence supplied by police. This decision marks a significant shift in the Met's approach to policing online hate speech, which has been a contentious issue in recent months. The force had previously faced criticism for its handling of non-crime hate incidents, with some accusing officers of overstepping their powers. The Met's commissioner has stated that he believes current laws and rules on inciting violence online leave officers in an "impossible position". However, the decision to drop the probe into Mr Linehan has been met with outrage from some quarters, with accusations that the police are bowing to pressure from powerful individuals. This is a developing story. The Met Police's decision to drop its probe into non-crime hate incidents will likely have significant implications for policing online speech in the UK. As more information becomes available, we will provide updates on this breaking news story. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Bbc.*