UK woman arrested in 4 AM raid for emailing MP to “stop Gaza genocide”

A 54-year-old woman in Brighton, UK, identified as Kerry (pseudonym), was subjected to a 4 am police raid on her home, arrested, and had her electronic devices seized, following a complaint reportedly made by the office of Labour MP and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle.

The incident, which occurred on June 17, stems from Kerry's emails to various Labour politicians, including Kyle, expressing strong views on “Israel's” war on the Gaza Strip, according to an investigation conducted by a Brighton-based writer “Greg Hadfield”.

Kerry recounted being woken by her dogs around 4 am to find four uniformed Sussex Police officers at her door. She was immediately arrested, her mobile phone and Chromebook confiscated, and then transported to Hollingbury Custody Centre, where she was held for over eight hours.

She was questioned about "malicious communication" and later released on strict bail conditions, which prohibit her from contacting Peter Kyle, his Director of Operations Chris Henry, Sir Keir Starmer, David Lammy, Angela Rayner, or visiting Kyle's constituency office.

The emails in question, sent by Kerry, a former broadcaster who avoids social media, conveyed "anger and concern about Israel's actions in Gaza, which she described as 'genocide.'"

While her messages included strong statements, such as politicians potentially being tried in The Hague, the author of the original report, who reviewed the emails, said they were "polite, articulate, and impassioned," containing no "abusive, threatening, or unlawful content, nor anything antisemitic".

The complaint to Sussex Police was reportedly lodged by Chris Henry, Peter Kyle's "Director of Operations," on June 16. Kyle, who became Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology after Labour's 2024 election victory, is also a vice-president of Labour Friends of “Israel”.

He has previously spoken about receiving serious threats and abuse, emphasizing the need to protect his staff. However, critics argue the 4 am raid for email communication appears disproportionate, especially given the nature of the alleged offense.

This incident has ignited concerns about the balance between constituent free speech and the application of laws like the Malicious Communications Act 1988 and the Communications Act 2003, which criminalize "grossly offensive" messages.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) guidance emphasizes that merely "rude or offensive" communication is not unlawful unless it is "grossly offensive," and that interference with freedom of expression must be "necessary and proportionate".

Cases involving communications offenses directed towards MPs require special approval from a Chief Crown Prosecutor.

The timing of the police intervention, a 4 am raid, also raises questions, as search warrants are generally executed between 6 am and 10 pm, with exceptions requiring "reasonable cause".

No specific UK guidelines for police raids under communications acts specify the time of day.

Neither Peter Kyle nor the Labour Party has issued a public statement regarding this specific incident.

Kerry remains on police bail until September 17. The outcome of the police investigation and whether formal charges will be brought against her remains to be seen.