High court finds actions of Humberside police had ‘chilling effect’ on Harry Miller’s right to free speech

Police officers unlawfully interfered with a man’s right to freedom of expression by turning up at his place of work to speak to him about allegedly “transphobic” tweets, the high court has ruled.

Harry Miller, a former police officer who founded the campaign group Fair Cop, said the actions of Humberside police had a “substantial chilling effect” on his right to free speech.

Read article: Police who warned man about ‘transphobic’ tweet acted unlawfully

Ex-officer Harry Miller taking legal action after being accused of hate incident

Harry Miller outside the high court in London. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Official police guidance on recording hate incidents against transgender people imposes a “substantial chilling effect” on freedom

Harry Miller, who served with Humberside police, was contacted by the force this year after a complaint from a member of the public about allegedly transphobic comments he made on his Twitter account @HarryTheOwl.

Another officer told Miller that he had not committed a crime but his tweeting was being recorded as a hate incident under the College of Policing’s guidelines on hate crime, the high court in London heard.

Read article: Police transgender rules breach right to free speech, court told