Metropolitan Police officers have drawn criticism after tracking down a photographer to a pub and questioning him about his social media posts, with the man alleging the officers threatened him over tweets critical of a local Green Party councillor. Alastair Hilton was reportedly having a drink in Chiswick on Thursday when uniformed officers approached him, eventually taking him outside to discuss his online activity.
During the exchange, which Mr. Hilton recorded, he told the officers that his daughter had recently experienced an attempted burglary while she slept, and that police had declined to attend the incident. He expressed anger that officers were dispatched to address his tweets, which he maintained did not constitute a crime, while a more serious event was not met with police attendance.
Mr. Hilton had been campaigning with other local residents to save outdoor seating outside three pubs along the Thames. The pubs, The Bull's Head, The City Barge, and The Bell & Crown, had initially been told by Hounslow Council to remove their tables and chairs. Mr. Hilton had claimed on social media that Green Party councillor Rick Rowe was responsible for the original complaint, a claim Mr. Rowe has denied.
Officers at the pub warned Mr. Hilton that he was "close" to committing a crime, citing social media posts that mentioned the councillor's home address, suggesting they could be construed as harassment. However, the officers acknowledged that no offense had yet been committed, describing the interaction as a "conversation" and urging Mr. Hilton to "be mindful" of his posts.
Mr. Hilton stated that he felt threatened and warned off from tweeting about local councillors. The incident has fueled ongoing debates about "two-tier policing" and concerns over free speech, with accusations that police are intervening in online disputes rather than focusing on reported crimes. The Metropolitan Police and Councillor Rowe have been contacted for comment.
Following the community campaign, Hounslow Council agreed to allow the outdoor seating to remain in place while the pubs apply for the necessary pavement licenses. Councillor Amy Croft, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Enforcement and Recycling at Hounslow Council, stated that applications would be processed quickly, emphasizing the importance of pubs to the local economy and character, while also noting the legal requirement for proper permissions for furniture on public pathways.