Free speech row as police urge woman to apologise for facebook post

Thames Valley Police have been accused of undermining free speech after an officer asked a woman to apologise for a social media post.

Deborah Anderson, a mother-of-two and member of the Free Speech Union (FSU), was approached at her home after the police received a complaint that someone had felt threatened by her online comments.

In video footage that has gone viral, the officer does not specify which post was being investigated, but insists she should apologise for upsetting someone.

Ms Anderson, who identifies as a supporter of Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, refused to apologise and questioned the legality of the visit.

“You’re here because somebody got upset? Is it against the law? Am I being arrested?” she asked.

The officer replied that she was not under arrest but warned that a formal interview could be arranged.

The encounter has been widely criticised, with commentators describing it as an overreach by the police. The video clip has gained over two million views online and prompted significant backlash, particularly from free speech advocates.

The FSU, who supported Ms Anderson, said in a statement: “What was Deborah’s supposed crime? The policeman didn’t tell her… To make it worse, Deborah is in the midst of cancer treatment, including chemotherapy.”

The organisation also criticised the police for failing to inform her which of her posts triggered the complaint, later claiming the record had been “accidentally deleted.”

The police have since dropped the case.

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson confirmed they received a report in June that someone felt threatened by online comments. “They reported being called a terrorist and that, if the person making the comment was Prime Minister, they would be lined up and shot,” the statement read.

“While people are entitled to express their views, it is the police’s duty to respond to allegations of threatening language and references to violence.”

The incident has sparked the continued debate about the boundaries of free expression and the role of police in online discourse, following the arrest of Graham Linehan earlier this month for tweeting about trans issues.