A Small Win for Free Speech

In this Modernity article, “A Small WIN For Free Speech”, Steve Watson reports that South Wales Police has paused plans to record certain speech about Islam as “anti-Muslim hostility” after pushback from the Free Speech Union and Conservative officials.

• South Wales Police had reportedly directed staff to log comments about Islam that went beyond what officers considered “legitimate” discussion.
• Critics argued the policy amounted to a de facto blasphemy rule by giving police discretion to decide what counted as acceptable criticism of Islam.
• The Free Speech Union threatened judicial review, arguing the guidance conflicted with free speech protections and data protection rules.
• Shadow Equalities Minister Claire Coutinho also referred the matter to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
• The article says the concern was not merely symbolic: recorded incidents could potentially appear in enhanced DBS checks, affecting employment prospects in sensitive fields.
• Watson frames the police move as an example of how vague “hostility” frameworks can become selective speech-monitoring tools.
• The article contrasts the South Wales Police interpretation with the UK government’s March definition of anti-Muslim hostility, which included free speech safeguards.
• Conservative MP Katie Lam warned that such rules could chill discussion of Islamist extremism, FGM, and grooming gangs.
• South Wales Police has now said it will seek guidance from the National Police Chiefs’ Council before making any further decision.
• The article concludes that the reversal is a small but meaningful victory, showing that public exposure and credible legal pressure can force institutions to retreat from speech-policing policies.

Read the full story: https://modernity.news/2026/06/10/a-small-win-for-free-speech/