A retired special constable was arrested after posting a warning on X about anti-Semitism in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war.
Six police officers turned up at the door of Julian Foulkes’ Gillingham home before searching his property, seizing his electronic devices and cuffing him.
Julian Foulkes was arrested after posting a warning against anti-Semitism on X. Picture: @JulianPFoulkes/Twitter
The Telegraph has reported how the 71-year-old was detained after challenging a pro-Palestine supporter on X, formerly Twitter.
On October 30, 2023, an individual had tweeted threatening to sue then Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who had called pro-Palestine protests “hate marches”, if she called them an anti-Semite.
In response, Mr Foulkes replied: “One step away from storming Heathrow looking for Jewish arrivals…”
Just two days later, the Metropolitan Police Intelligence Command referred his post to Kent Police for “concerns around online content”.
At the time of reporting, it had been viewed just 26 times.
Julian Foulkes with his wife
The following day, the force, which the pensioner had served for more than a decade, arrested him on suspicion of an offence under the Malicious Communications Act.
Officers had searched his home for more than an hour prior with bodycam footage showing them rifling through the pensioner and his wife’s belongings.
It also captures the moment an officer says “Ah, that’s sad” after finding newspaper cuttings the couple had kept following the tragic death of their daughter Francesca.
She was just 21 when she was killed by a drunk driver while on holiday in Ibiza in 2010.
At one point they described his collection of books and issues of The Spectator as “very Brexity things”.
After, he was taken to Medway police station where he was booked in, fingerprinted, photographed and had his DNA taken.
He was held in a cell for eight hours before he was interviewed at 9pm.
Police searched Mr Foulkes home for over an hour before arresting him. Picture: Stock
It was only then that Mr Foulkes was informed what exactly he had been arrested for.
He denied he intended to cause distress or alarm five times but was bailed and told to return on February 1 last year.
Just over a week later he returned to the station to be issued a caution but over summer last year he challenged this with help from a solicitor.
A spokesperson for Kent Police said: “On 2 November 2023 a report was made to Kent Police about a social media post that was alleged to have been offensive, and Mr Foulkes was arrested on the same day.
“Although he was offered and accepted an unconditional caution following his own independent legal advice, a subsequent review of the case by the force concluded that the caution was not appropriate in the circumstances and should not have been issued.
“Kent Police apologises to Mr Foulkes for the distress caused and how the report was investigated. We have expunged the caution from his record and are pleased to facilitate this correction.
“Mr Foulkes has been informed of the decision and a further review of the matter will now be carried out to identify any learning opportunities.”
Mr Foulkes was detained in a cell at Medway police station in Gillingham. Stock picture
Mr Foulkes told The Telegraph: “It’s cost me money I can’t afford. I’m a pensioner – not one of these millionaire retirees you read about.
“This was a disaster. It’s like PTSD.
“You push it to the back of your mind, but it comes back and you relive it.
“It was just so wrong – and especially painful because I’d spent 10 years working with these people for no remuneration.
“I did it because I believed in it and enjoyed it. I left with a certificate from the chief constable, thanking me for my service. Now, all those memories feel trashed.”
“Law-abiding people should not be investigated for non-existent thought crimes…”
Commenting on the arrest, Mrs Braverman said: “Law-abiding people should not be investigated for non-existent thought crimes.
“The Met and Kent Police must investigate how this took place and formally apologise to Mr Foulkes.
“Both forces must be held accountable for their actions which were a shameful waste of time, money and resources.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “This incident occurred under the previous government.
“The Home Secretary has made clear that she believes all police forces should be focused on the central priorities of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission, including rebuilding neighbourhood policing, reducing anti-social behaviour, and making progress towards the unprecedented ambition to halve knife crime and violence against women and girls within a decade.”