No criminal offence made by Farage's 'take the knife' vow, police find – Evening Standard, Standard.co.uk

                              

                                                                                          

A police probe into a vow made byNigel Farageto “take the knife” to civil servants in Whitehall after Brexit has found his comments did not constitute a criminal offence.

                                                                                                                                                

Gwent Police was investigating allegations against theBrexit Partyleader after he madecontroversial remarks to a crowd in Newport.

                                                                                                                                                   

He told the crowd: “When the president of the port of Calais and the boss of the port of Dover tell you they’re 100 per cent ready for Brexit in whatever form it comes, I suggest we listen to them and not the overpaid penpushers in Whitehall who are not doing a neutral job. And once Brexit’s done, we’ll take the knife to them. “

                                                                                                                                                         

To applause, he then added: “I’ve had enough of all of it.”

                                                                                                                                                

Mr Farage claimed he was talking about cuts to the civil service at the rally on September 21.

                                                                                                                                                   

      

       

After footage of the event resurfaced, Gwent Police responded to dozens of complaints about the language used, saying officers were “looking into these allegations.”

                                                                                                                                                   

But the force has now said the comments made at the Brexit Party rally “do not form a criminal offence”.

                                                                                                                                                

Assistant Chief Constable Rhiannon Kirk said: “We have received a number of comments and concerns from members of the public regarding a video that is circulating on social media.

                                                                                                                                                            

“We can confirm this video relates to a visit by Nigel Farage to The Neon in Newport as part of a Brexit Party Rally on the evening of Friday September 21.

                                                                                                                                                

“We are aware of the heightened tensions that exist regarding use of language, and take all allegations and concerns from members of the public very seriously.

                                                                                                                                                                              

“However, following a thorough assessment, it is our view that the comments in the video, do not form a criminal offence.”

                                                                                                                                                

As a result, Gwent Police “will not be taking any further action.”

                                                                                                                                                

Earlier today, Mr Farage defended himself, claiming he was talking about getting rid of civil service jobs after Brexit.

                                                                                                                                                                

He wrote on Twitter: “I should have said ‘take the ax’, which is a more traditional term for cuts.”