A British IT consultant says he was subjected to a “13-week nightmare” after West Yorkshire Police arrested him over a social media post showing him holding a fire arm during a holiday in Florida. The case has sparked renewed debate about freedom of expression in the United Kingdom.
Jon Richelieu-Booth, 50, posted the LinkedIn image on August 13 showing himself holding a shotgun on a private homestead while visiting friends. He said the accompanying message detailed his day and work activities and contained nothing threatening.
“I was told to be careful what I say online and I need to understand how it makes people feel,”
Richelieu-Booth recalled after an initial police visit to his home. He claims he offered proof that the photo was taken in the U.S., but was told it wasn’t necessary.
On August 24, Richelieu-Booth was arrested. He was held overnight, questioned, and released on bail until late October. Initial allegations, including possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear and stalking related to another social media post, were later dropped. He was briefly re-arrested for allegedly breaching bail conditions—a charge that was also dropped. A public order offence linked to a different social media post was eventually discontinued.
Richelieu-Booth described the experience as “massive overreach,” saying the seizure of his devices left him unable to work.
“Anybody should be allowed to say anything they wish, as long as it’s not hateful,”
he said.
“When did we get so thin-skinned as a society?”
The case comes amid broader concerns about the U.K.’s approach to policing online speech. In response to the situation, U.S. podcaster Joe Rogan criticized the British approach, stating during a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience:
“12,000 people [are] arrested by the police in the U.K., the same place that just implemented digital ID. I mean, this is an Orwell nightmare coming to life right in front of our face, and no one’s flinching.”
Rogan also pointed out the broader societal implications:
“You’re seeing a complete total attack on one of the most fundamental principles of the Western world, which is your ability to express yourself,”
adding,
“These people are not calling for violence… They’re being arrested for wild things. People are being arrested for liking posts. Some people were investigated for viewing posts.”
A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said the force received a complaint involving social media posts, including images of a man with firearms that were interpreted as threatening.
“Police investigated and charged a man with a public order offence but the case was then discontinued by the CPS,”
the statement said.
Richelieu-Booth said he plans to make a formal complaint against WYP and seek damages, describing the ordeal as a personal and professional ordeal.