Police Scotland take no action over JK Rowling’s social media posts

No action to be taken over Harry Potter author JK Rowling’s social media posts about transgender issues.

Police Scotland have said they would not be taking action over Harry Potter author JK Rowling’s social media posts about transgender issues.

The writer, who has become an outspoken critic of the Scottish Government’s stance on trans rights, declared “freedom of speech and belief are at an end in Scotland if the accurate description of biological sex is deemed criminal” on X, formerly Twitter.

The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act – which came into force on Monday – has been met with objections from freedom of speech campaigners, including Elon Musk and Andrew Neil.

Posting about the issue on social media, Rowling, who is out of the country at the moment, added that if what she had written was an offence under the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act – which came into force on Monday – she would “look forward to being arrested when I return to the birthplace of the Scottish Enlightenment”.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “The comments are not assessed to be criminal and no further action will be taken.”

After the announcement, Ms Rowling wrote: “I hope every woman in Scotland who wishes to speak up for the reality and importance of biological sex will be reassured by this announcement, and I trust that all women – irrespective of profile or financial means – will be treated equally under the law.”

She also thanked supporters who had backed her stance on the subject, and vowed to stand up for other women who were prosecuted, adding: “If they go after any woman for simply calling a man a man, I’ll repeat that woman’s words and they can charge us both at once.”

Ms Rowling wrote to one wellwisher: “I won’t ever forget the support I’ve had x.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made clear his Government is “not going to do anything like” the new Scottish legislation, as he insisted: “We should not be criminalising people saying common sense things about biological sex.

“Clearly that isn’t right, we have a proud tradition of free speech.”

The Prime Minister added that while it was not for him to comment on police matters, he “very strongly” supports the right to free speech.

Published: 02/04/2024 by Radio NewsHub