'It's ethical!' Essex Police chief defends Pearson probe after force dropped investigation

The investigation, which has since been closed with no offence identified, had sparked significant debate about police priorities and freedom of speech.

The investigation stemmed from a complaint by a member of the public regarding a social media post made by Pearson in November last year.

Officers arrived at the columnist's home on Remembrance Sunday to inform her she was being investigated for allegedly stirring up racial hatred.

The police invited Pearson to a voluntary interview but declined to reveal which specific post was under scrutiny or who had filed the complaint.

The incident quickly became a flashpoint for debate, with critics viewing it as an alarming intrusion into press freedom.

Pearson later expressed her anger towards Essex Police, stating: "I do not believe there was ever any case to answer, I was expressing my opinion in what I thought was a free society."

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The controversy drew responses from prominent political figures, with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson describing it as a "chilling attack on free speech".

Sir Keir Starmer also intervened, emphasising that responding to tweets should not be the police's first priority.

The Prime Minister instead insisted that forces should focus on what matters most to their communities.

Less than two weeks after the Remembrance Sunday visit, Essex Police announced they had closed the criminal investigation, having identified no offence.

The force's handling of the case is now expected to face a review.

Defending Essex Police's investigation, Harrington told GB News: "All I'd say is, we received an allegation of crime. Officers went round and investigated that crime, proportionately, fairly, and I think very, very ethically."

The chief constable also stood firmly behind his officers' conduct, noting that evidence had been presented to the Crown Prosecution Service.

He emphasised that if the public wished police to stop investigating alleged hate crimes, legislative change would be necessary.

"If people make an allegation of crime to this force, officers will follow up reasonable lines of inquiry to gather the evidence to make a decision if a crime has been committed," he explained.

Addressing criticism about investigating journalists, Harrington maintained his force had followed proper procedures throughout the case.

"We followed the reasonable line of inquiry. We did that professionally. They did that lawfully. And of course, we follow due process," Harrington added.

The chief constable emphasised that police cannot dismiss allegations without proper investigation.

"We can't make that assumption at the start because that would be wrong for victims of crime," he explained, reiterating that the investigation had concluded with a finding of no crime.