Government action, not words, is the only way to rescue police from the free speech culture wars

11th September 2025Adam Stokes, Lecturer in Policing, Leeds Trinity University 2 Comments

From protestors declaring their support for Palestine Action on placards, to comedians and campaigners being questioned and charged over online posts, and politicians scoring populist points both here and internationally, officers have found themselves in the centre of the free speech debate and accused of policing words – a situation which former officer and now Leeds Trinity University Policing Lecturer Adam Stokes believes requires meaningful government support through less talk and more actions.

To read this article you need to have an individual paid subscription or subscriber access via your organisation’s corporate subscription.

Please sign in to your account or subscribe to a plan below to read this article.

If your organisation has a corporate subscription please register a FREE account with your organisation email address for full subscriber access.

Email Address or Username:

Password:

Forgot password?

Having problems creating an account or can't sign in? Please e-mail [email protected]

Username: *

Email Address: *

Verify Email Address: *

Captcha: *

A registration to Policing Insight also registers you for access to sister site PolicingTV.

Receive the Policing Insight Weekly Digest Receive the Policing Insight Daily Brief (powered by Media Monitor) I would like to receive information and offers from carefully selected partners of Policing Insight and PolicingTV

Having problems creating an account or can't sign in? Please e-mail [email protected]

Government action, not words, is the only way to rescue police from the free speech culture wars

Request a password reset using the form below