This is hard to read as anything but an intimidation tactic.
Reminds me of another case where some parents complained about their daughter's school and got arrested for it[1].
Why are (British) police so happy to play attack dog for anyone with only even a modicum of social standing? To what reasonable officer of the law is escorting someone away in handcuffs ever an appropriate response here?
I'm really struggling to find nice words, but luckily I don't think there's any need to say the quiet part out loud: If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.
Honestly I'd probably overall side with the police here and say that these kinds of allegations should not be made publicly and reported to the police quietly for them to investigate - if British police hadn't managed to completely obliterate public trust in their ability and willingness to investigate SA cases unless pressured publicly.
Habeas corpus and due process originated in England. Those two rights protect people from arbitrary arrest and detention and ensure all their rights are given to them during legal proceedings. It seems hearsay is enough to be arrested in Britain today.
You need reasonable grounds to suspect that someone has committed an offence in order to arrest (plus a necessity).
This has been the case since 1984, the necessity was only added because SOCPA got rid of the distinction between arrestable and non-arrestable offences.
Cold_Miserable · 2h ago
The UK is going downhill. Economically and politically.
Use of government thugs "police" to intimidate is just the beginning.
Home invasion child rapists were given less time than Lucy Connelly, Alex Bellfield or Tommy Robinson got for hurty words.
Onavo · 2h ago
They probably watched too many US cop shows.
evanjrowley · 1h ago
There could be a lot more to this story behind the scenes. The article contains this at the following quote.
>Last year, Mr Kavanagh became embroiled in a row with a group of Chinese tourists who demanded he stop livestreaming at a public piano site at London St Pancras International station where he was playing.
>The tourists confronted the musician, asking whether their faces were visible before insisting he stop filming.
I remember seeing this altercation from Kavanaugh's livestream (there are many videos about it)[0]. Mr. Kavanaugh was in the right in that situation and the Chinese "tourists" clearly tried to twist the facts of the situation to gain advantage over Kavanaugh. The police confronted Kavanaugh when he was obviously the victim. Did the author of this article, Steve Bird, care to watch the videos?
There is a real possibility the police reaction here was exacerbated due the the events of that situation, possibly even due to some international/political motive.
Reminds me of another case where some parents complained about their daughter's school and got arrested for it[1].
Why are (British) police so happy to play attack dog for anyone with only even a modicum of social standing? To what reasonable officer of the law is escorting someone away in handcuffs ever an appropriate response here?
I'm really struggling to find nice words, but luckily I don't think there's any need to say the quiet part out loud: If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.
Honestly I'd probably overall side with the police here and say that these kinds of allegations should not be made publicly and reported to the police quietly for them to investigate - if British police hadn't managed to completely obliterate public trust in their ability and willingness to investigate SA cases unless pressured publicly.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/29/parents-arre...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeas_corpus
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Due_process
This has been the case since 1984, the necessity was only added because SOCPA got rid of the distinction between arrestable and non-arrestable offences.
>Last year, Mr Kavanagh became embroiled in a row with a group of Chinese tourists who demanded he stop livestreaming at a public piano site at London St Pancras International station where he was playing.
>The tourists confronted the musician, asking whether their faces were visible before insisting he stop filming.
I remember seeing this altercation from Kavanaugh's livestream (there are many videos about it)[0]. Mr. Kavanaugh was in the right in that situation and the Chinese "tourists" clearly tried to twist the facts of the situation to gain advantage over Kavanaugh. The police confronted Kavanaugh when he was obviously the victim. Did the author of this article, Steve Bird, care to watch the videos?
There is a real possibility the police reaction here was exacerbated due the the events of that situation, possibly even due to some international/political motive.
[0] https://youtu.be/FtcwdFHD5X8?si=xttZEVbh04iL40pN