Five, apparently. That’s five armed police officers, of course. Heaven knows how many unarmed officers it would take to bring down a mighty warrior like Graham Linehan.
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How many coppers does it take to arrest one comedy writer?September 2nd, 2025 |
 9 comments to How many coppers does it take to arrest one comedy writer?Leave a Reply |
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You have to understand that this writer was saying things that opposed the official Party Line and therefore was aiding enemies of the State and [Protected Class] People. While traditionally british cops have gone unarmed, this was deemed to be a greater threat to those in power and therefore required stronger measures. I rather suspect those measures will be extended to the general proletariat soon.
In passing, after his arrest Linehan had to be taken to their equivalent of an ER. His systolic blood pressure was at about 200, which is stroke territory. All this for 3 tweets. In any case, if he should survive brit healthcare [itself not a surety], he needs to get out of britain and never come back and consider changing his nationality. I would also recommend that all Americans avoid britain, as you would any totalitarian country.
Subotai Bahadur
I expect the police were armed because the arrest was at Heathrow and the police are armed there.
But 5 police? Unless that fracas at Manchester Airport has put the wind up our persons in blue. Perhaps they are unsure about our natural respect for their duties. I wonder if that’s it?
They need five armed thugs because they are cowards.
If you like legal arcana, this is all going to raise a jurisdictional issue that will either be insurmountable to the state, or will trigger armed conflict between the US and the UK.
They’re prosecuting him for actions he took while here in the US.
That means they are claiming jurisdiction over me, typing at my computer, here in the US.
No one in the USA who has tweeted badly about the UK will be able to travel to the UK.
A reminder that it’s less than six months since Stewart Lee, that fearless puncturer of hypocrisy, was bleating about being scared to travel to the US. I may be wrong, but as far as I’m aware, no comedians have been arrested under speech laws in the United States so far in 2025.
As much as I hate to defend the British state, a display of “overwhelming force” will often prevent violence from happening, and when it does, it’s far safer for both the officers (assuming they are reasonably trained) and for the person they are trying to subdue.
If a single officer has to manage someone who’s gotten violent they have to be *more* violent, and they don’t have time to be careful.
If 5 cops have to manage someone who’s gotten violent, then 4 of them can focus on being careful with the individual (should they wish to) while the 5th deals with external issues.
Besides, this is an American. Even a sick American comedian is worth 2 or 3 bobbies…and you never know, he MIGHT be carrying a firearm.
The real issue isn’t the number, it’s the state.
My wife and I were going to celebrate our 30th wedding annivesary by spending 30 days in Europe. I’ve pretty much decided that y’all don’t deserve our tourist dollars.
“or will trigger armed conflict between the US and the UK.”
“INCONCEIVABLE!!!” (with apologies to Vizzini)
“No one in the USA who has tweeted badly about the UK will be able to travel to the UK.”
Worrisome. Plausible.
“being scared to travel to the US”
No need to be scared unless you go to certain neighborhoods in certain blue cities (IYKWIMAITYD). In other words: steer clear of minority neighborhoods, which are indeed very dangerous, and watch your six in neighborhoods on the margins off minority neighborhoods. Everywhere else, you’re golden.
He’s Irish, so he has no need to change his nationality, just never set foot in the UK ever again, and give the Anglo-Saxon Salute to the UK courts when they demand his attendance.
Does present-day Ireland sound like a nation that will actively fight his extradition for anti-woke behavior?