Police have arrested a man in connection with a death threat sent to a group of nurses who successfully campaigned against a transgender colleague using their female changing room. The nurses had previously won a high-profile tribunal case over the matter.
Officers from North Yorkshire Police arrested a 29-year-old man from York this week following an investigation into a threatening email and social media posts. The email, which included a photograph of a large kitchen knife, warned the nurses that the sender would come to their hospital and "murder whoever doesn't support trans rights." The sender also claimed to know the hospital's address and stated the threat was "not a joke."
Three nurses required security escorts to their cars after the threat was discovered last week, and seven were unable to return to work while awaiting police action. The nurses reported the threat immediately, providing the correspondence to authorities. However, they expressed distress over the perceived delay in police response and confusion over which force was handling the investigation.
"We are relieved but deeply shocked that the police took so long to take action on this, and only did after the media contacted them," said Bethany Hutchison, President of the Darlington Nursing Union. "This is not merely offensive online abuse. It is a specific and terrifying threat against a group of identifiable women at a named location which included an image of a large knife."
The nurses believe the abuse was triggered by their public support for author J.K. Rowling, who had backed their campaign. Earlier this year, Employment Tribunal judges ruled that the hospital trust had created a hostile and degrading environment for the nurses by allowing transgender worker Rose Henderson to use their female changing room.
Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which supported the nurses, called the situation "extraordinarily grave" and noted that the threat appeared motivated by hostility towards the nurses' "legally protected and vindicated position."
North Yorkshire Police confirmed the arrest and stated the suspect has been released on conditional police bail pending further inquiries. The suspect's mother described him as an "extremely vulnerable adult" with learning difficulties, claiming he was "angry and frustrated" but lacked malicious intent or understanding of the nature of his words.
A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust acknowledged awareness of the threat and confirmed it was reported to the police. The trust stated it has taken "all appropriate steps to support and protect colleagues" and ensure their safety at work, emphasizing that "no threats of violence are ever acceptable."