A teenager was roused from his sleep by four police officers back in August. The reason? He made some posts on his Facebook page that offended a local politician.
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The Teen Wasn't Sure Why the Police Came to His Home
As reported by The Telegraph, police visited the 15-year-old, Fraser, at his modest home in the English town of Walsall at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 3. The day before, the Reform UK Party activist had been campaigning for Nigel Farage in nearby Clacton.
"I just remember waking up in my room with these four people around me. They were all in uniform," said Fraser. "I asked them: 'Why are you here?'"
Fraser said he didn't get a clear answer. But it may have something to do with several Facebook posts he made that upset a Tory politician named Simon Bennett, who serves on the Wolverhampton city council.
One of the posts said the councilor, who wore shorts and a T-shirt to a meeting, was dressed inappropriately.
"Why do some councilors rock up at a scrutiny committee in shorts and t-shirt in trainers? So unprofessional," he wrote.
When the councilor wore a suit, Fraser commented that he was thankfully not dressed like a "rent boy."
Another image had Bennett with rabbit ears on his head. It read, "Nibble... nibble... crunch... crunch Can you hear it? That's the sound of a rabbit devouring the last remaining shreds of Wolverhampton Conservatives' credibility."
The Politician Complained to the Police
The councilor then made a complaint to the police about Fraser's post. Two months later, police and prosecutors still aren't sure whether to charge the teen.
In an email to Fraser's lawyer sent on Sep. 8, West Midlands Police wrote, "It is alleged that your client's comments could be considered a hate crime offence..."
Fraser doesn't believe that his message is a hate crime.
The case raises questions about free speech and abuse of power. Fraser's lawyers say their client was practicing "plainly political advocacy." They are also planning to sue the department for "wrongful arrest" and "false imprisonment." But they can't do anything until the investigation is dropped.
When asked about the posts, Bennett explained that he asked the Wolverhampton council for advice. He said "they thought it best to report it to the police." He added that "the police thought it merited arresting him."
"The police have not arrested for no reason... There were a number of posts that targeted me," Bennett said. "It was unpleasant, and I was targeted by a child I had no way of dealing with."
"I would say my arrest was politically motivated," said Fraser. "I can't quite believe what's happened to me.
Fraser added that he would like an apology from the police, but he doubts "they will give [him] one."
