The Facts
The UK's Metropolitan Police have come under scrutiny for detaining Ernest Moret, a French publisher, under the terms of the UK Terrorism Act.
According to authorities, the foreign rights manager for Paris-based publisher Editions La Fabrique was arrested for obstruction. He was detained on his way to the London Book Fair after traveling to St. Pancras railway station on the Eurostar. He was released on Tuesday.
The Spin
Narrative A
The Met police have undermined freedom of expression, and journalists internationally should be concerned. The increasingly repressive approach being taken by the French government is increasingly problematic, and now it seems that the British government is complicit, even utilizing draconian legislation to help drown out those voices dissenting from Macron. More must be done to scrutinize police actions.
Narrative B
Besides the concerning authoritarianism of this action, it's disgraceful that the Met is concerning itself with publishers — even detaining people it cannot charge — while lax border control is allowing genuinely dangerous criminals to enter the UK. London's anti-terror legislation should be used to tackle the mounting terrorist threat, not to unjustifiably arrest an individual who wasn't protesting against the British government.
