Met Police says the Zack Polanski guillotine post did not meet the criminal threshold, ending its review after the image spread online.
The Met Police has dropped its review of a Zack Polanski guillotine post, saying the Green Party leader’s online sharing of the image did not cross the line into a criminal offence. The force said the image, which showed a man in a T-shirt with a guillotine graphic and the words “we’re only making plans for Nigel,” had been circulated widely online, but that sharing it was unlikely to amount to a crime.
In its statement, the Met said it had looked carefully at the post and concluded that taking no further action was the right course. Officers said the image had been shared by around 130 accounts and that police should not treat people differently simply because they are public figures. The force said that if it pursued the matter, it would have to consider all of those accounts too, and that such an investigation would be disproportionate and not a reasonable use of police time.
The decision ends one part of a dispute that drew in Reform UK and prompted a sharp exchange over political standards online. Reform UK reported Polanski to police after he shared the Instagram post. A party spokesman accused him of getting away with what he described as incitement, while also claiming ordinary people are punished for far less when they joke online. The spokesman said the case showed “two-tier Britain.”
Polanski, who leads the Green Party of England and Wales, has said the repost was a mistake but has refused to apologise to Nigel Farage. He told BBC Newsnight that he did not want to give Farage more material to use online or fuel the row further. Polanski said he wanted to draw a line under the issue, condemn political violence, and acknowledge that he should handle social media better.
“Met Police says the Zack Polanski guillotine post did not meet the criminal threshold, ending its review after the image spread online.”
Farage, for his part, argued that Polanski’s position as a political leader with a large following meant he could not share such an image without consequences. He told reporters that people who post racist or inciting material online usually face police action and said that response is proper. He also said he had not received a private apology from Polanski, adding that people who make mistakes should apologise afterward.
The Met did, however, say there was enough basis to record a crime in relation to the T-shirt itself and sent that report to Avon and Somerset Police, who cover Bristol, where the photo was taken. That force then said the threshold for a criminal offence had not been met. It said it had considered the context around the image, including the song lyrics and the fact the T-shirt was marketed as satire.
Avon and Somerset Police also said no complaints were received from people at the event where the shirt was worn, and that there was no evidence the wearer meant to threaten anyone or encourage others to do so. The force stressed that it takes the safety of elected politicians seriously and will act when it identifies a threat. This case matters because it sits at the junction of free expression, political tempers, and the growing pressure on police to decide where online provocation ends and criminal intent begins.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the Met Police take no further action against Zack Polanski’s repost?
The Met said the post was unlikely to amount to a crime. It also said investigating a widely shared image across around 130 accounts would be disproportionate and not a reasonable use of police time.
What was Reform UK’s complaint about Polanski’s post?
Reform UK reported him to police after he shared the Instagram post. A party spokesman said he had got away with what they called incitement and described the outcome as “two-tier Britain.”
What did Polanski say about sharing the image?
Polanski said reposting it was a mistake but refused to apologise to Nigel Farage. He said he wanted to draw a line under the issue, condemn political violence, and handle social media better.
Why was the T-shirt itself not treated as a criminal offence?
The Met referred the T-shirt matter to Avon and Somerset Police, which said the criminal threshold had not been met. That force said the image was satirical, no complaints were received from people at the event, and there was no evidence of a threat or encouragement.
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