Starmer’s Britain branded an ‘Orwellian dystopia’ as police visit writer for yea

Sir Keir Starmer’s Britain has been branded an “Orwellian dystopia” after columnist and author Allison Pearson was visited by police officers on Remembrance Sunday.

The writer claims officers told her she was being visited over a “non-crime hate incident” from a year ago, something Essex Police denies.

She told The Telegraph that Essex Police officers visited her Saffron Walden home at 9.40am on November 10, while she was still in her dressing gown.

Ms Pearson said she asked the officers: “What did this post I wrote that offended someone say?” She said the officers told her they could not disclose that information.

She then wrote that she asked the officers: “So what’s the name of the person who made the complaint against me?” She said the officer explained that he could not disclose that information either and that the person who raised the complaint was not an “accuser” but a “victim”.

According to The Telegraph, Essex Police said the alleged offence was being treated as a criminal matter under section 17 of the Public Order Act 1986, which relates to material “likely or intended to cause racial hatred”.

Fellow columnist and Sunday Telegraph editor Allister Heath said that “Starmer’s Britain is no longer a free country – it’s an Orwellian dystopia”, referring to George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four.

Even X owner Elon Musk posted “this needs to stop” after hearing of the police visit.

The Home Office has confirmed that it is reviewing the guidance for officers over non-crime hate incidents.

A Downing Street spokesman told The Telegraph: “It’s important that the police can capture data relating to non-crime hate incidents where it is proportionate and necessary to do so to help prevent serious crimes which may later occur.”

However, the spokesman added: “As we have previously said, the Home Office is looking at how to do this whilst also balancing the fundamental right of free speech, and ensuring that the police can spend their time dealing with the issues that matter most to our communities.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Essex Police cuts crime. There were over 9,000 fewer reported offences in the last year and 20,000 fewer than five years ago.

“Our officers and staff, some of which are military veterans, work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to keep the public safe and investigate crime.

“We police without fear or favour and when a crime is reported, we investigate. That’s what we do and that’s what the people of Essex expect.

“There has been a large amount of false reporting about an ongoing investigation and the force has registered complaints with IPSO.”

IPSO is the Independent Press Standards Organisation and regulates newspapers.