After they sparked outrage at Glastonbury by declaring that IDF soldiers should be killed, Avon and Somerset Police have revealed they won’t be prosecuting Bob Vylan.
After encouraging crowds at the Glastonbury Festival to chant “death, death to the IDF,” the police have confirmed they will refrain from further action against the music duo Bob Vylan. When the music act took to the stage in June, the comments sparked a backlash.
The chant directed by the lead singer, Pascal Robinson-Foster, was performed during the set. The Corporation later apologised for the incident after the BBC allowed the moment to be broadcast.
Following complaints, Avon and Somerset Police agreed to investigate the incident with a criminal investigation launched, headed by a senior detective. But now the police force has announced they will be taking no further action against the performers.
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Avon and Somerset Police stated in a statement on Tuesday that “no further action will be taken on the basis that there is insufficient evidence to support a plausible conviction.” This decision was confirmed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), according to a statement released by the Avon and Somerset Police.
The comments made on Saturday, June 28 drew widespread outcry, according to Avon and Somerset Police, demonstrating that words have real-world effects. We think it is appropriate that this issue was thoroughly investigated, that every potential criminal offense was thoroughly investigated, and that we sought out every possible counsel to ensure that we made an informed choice.
Since this incident, we have actively spoken with a number of groups, particularly in our Jewish communities, and kept them informed throughout the entire statement. This has always been our top priority, and it has continued to do so with the announcement of this investigative outcome.
We incredibly value having that candid discussion, which will allow us to offer any support or reassurance needed. A man in his mid-thirties was reportedly interviewed by the police on a voluntary basis over the incident in November, and he was given details on Tuesday.
In July, Avon and Somerset Police shared the details of its initial inquiries with the CPS and sought legal counsel regarding a number of crimes. Before a performance from Belfast rap trio Kneecap, who were also subject to police investigation for comments made on stage, Bob Vylan, who are known for writing songs that criticize the British establishment, performed on the West Holts Stage.
Avon and Somerset Police stated in July that it would “no longer take action” against the Irish language group because there was “insufficient evidence” to support a “realistic chance of conviction for any offence.
Following Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury appearance, the duo were dropped from a number of festivals and performances including Radar festival, a show at a German music venue, and a US tour after their visas were revoked. In October, British Airways paused their sponsorship of the Louis Theroux Podcast following an interview with Robinson-Foster, which saw him say he was “not regretful” of the chant and would “do it again tomorrow”.
In November the Metropolitan Police said they would close their own investigation into a London performance, following advice from the CPS. The investigation was launched by police after footage emerged allegedly showing singer Bobby Vylan saying “death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)” at a performance supporting singer Iggy Pop at Alexandra Palace in May.
We recognize the strong public opinion about remarks made during Bob Vylan’s performance at the Glastonbury Festival in June, particularly among the Jewish community. Avon and Somerset Police received early investigative advice regarding what evidence might be required to pass the legal test for charging, but we were not asked to make a charging decision in this case.
Avon and Somerset Police stated that they had evaluated a number of offences and that they had to prove them, but they had no way of knowing whether there was enough evidence to support a conviction.
Source: Mirror
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