A CATHOLIC mother-of-five faces questioning by police in the UK after allegedly "misgendering" a transgender girl on Twitter following a live TV debate.
Caroline Farrow, 44, appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain programme last September for a debate with transgender rights campaigner Susie Green, whose daughter Jackie was born a boy called Jack.
Mrs Farrow, a Catholic journalist and commentator, reportedly tweeted the word "him" to refer to Jackie after the debate as she had not yet undergone gender-reassignment surgery.
Surrey Police have now told Mrs Farrow that they want to conduct a "taped interview under caution" with her several months after they received a complaint about her tweets.
She is being investigated under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 and claims she has been threatened with arrest if she does not attend the "voluntary" interview.
I have pointed out to the police that I am a Catholic journalist/commentator and it is my religious belief that a person cannot change sex. That we are in the middle of a national conversation about what it means to be male and what it means to be female.
— Caroline Farrow (@CF_Farrow) 18 March 2019
Revealing the news on Twitter, Mrs Farrow said she could not remember the tweets in question but would "happily do jail time" for her right to free speech.
She added: "Had a message from Guildford police tonight about my tweets following an appearance on GMB with Susie Green and Piers Morgan.
"Susie Green has reported me for misgendering her daughter. I have pointed out to the police that I am a Catholic journalist/commentator and it is my religious belief that a person cannot change sex.
Here are the provisions of the malicious communications act: https://t.co/6ICBG2WJKZ - I am not in breach.
— Caroline Farrow (@CF_Farrow) 18 March 2019
"We are in the middle of a national conversation about what it means to be male and what it means to be female. Nonetheless, following my appearance on National Television the CPS have decided I need to be interviewed under caution for misgendering Susie Green’s child.
"I don’t even remember said tweets. This was in September! I have done nothing wrong, nothing illegal and will happily do jail time for my right to say that people cannot change sex."
I don’t even remember said tweets. This was in September! But I really not got give a flying toss. I have done nothing wrong, nothing illegal and will happily do jail time for my right to say that people cannot change sex.
— Caroline Farrow (@CF_Farrow) 18 March 2019
The probe by Surrey Police has reignited the debate over whether resources should be used to investigate social media complaints, at a time when officers are failing to stem the tide of violent crime and knife offences plageuing communities across the UK.
Sara Thornton, who recently stepped down as the head of the National Police Chiefs' Council, recently said forces needed to get back to core policing rather than focus on issues such as hate crime.
Cressida Dick, the head of Scotland Yard, backed the call for police to prioritise tackling burglary and violence over investigating historic offences involving dead suspects and hate crimes.
Here’s the GMB interview the police referred to. From what I understand this wasn’t illegal but some follow-up tweets were. https://t.co/suOELE7aSK
— Caroline Farrow (@CF_Farrow) 18 March 2019
A spokesman for Surrey Police said: “We received an allegation on 15 October 2018 in relation to a number of tweets which were posted in October 2018.
"A thorough investigation is being carried out to establish whether any criminal offences have taken place.
"A 44-year-old woman has been asked to attend a voluntary interview in relation to the allegation as part of our ongoing investigation."
However. For those wondering if I am upset or hoping I am. Nope. I have 5 kids. Might catch up on a bit of sleep in the clink! 😂 pic.twitter.com/p5pl89McZx
— Caroline Farrow (@CF_Farrow) 18 March 2019
