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Kneecap police investigation exposed as a political stunt as cops drop all of it

Avon and Somerset Police have decided not to continue their investigation into Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.

State intimidation of Kneecap

It is clear that opening the investigation was nothing more than a political stunt, aimed at inflicting intimidation.

The email stated:

RE: Your Clients: (1) Liam Og Hanna, (2) Naoise O’Caireallain and (3) James John O’Dochartaigh, commonly known
‘Kneecap’

I am Senior Investigating Officer for Avon and Somerset Police’s investigation into Kneecap’s performance at the Glastonbury Festival on 28th June 2025 [REDACTED}
Following a review of the evidence, I have determined there will be no further
action.
I would be grateful if you could communicate this to your clients, and/ or advise me of an alternative way of contacting them.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
Regards [REDACTED]
Detective Superintendent [REDACTED]

The police announced the investigation publicly, and with a huge show of force from the media. But now, they have decided to close the investigation in a private email chain to two people.

Of course, you can quietly retract an accusation you put out at full volume.

Where’s the public apology for reputational damage? Kneecap had gigs cancelled amid the media uproar. Manchester council have also been ‘in talks’ over dropping them from the Wythenshawe Park lineup in August.

The group were set to play at the TRNSMT festival in Glasgow this weekend. The festival pulled them from the lineup following concerns raised by the police. Despite that, they played a replacement show at Glasgow’s O2 Academy, which sold out in 80 seconds.

Similarly, Radar Festival pulled Bob Vylan from their lineup in Greater Manchester earlier in July. This was after they led “death to the IDF” chants during their Glastonbury set.

Of course, broadcasters can call for disabled people to be shot or starved, but a band calling for death to a genocidal army is somehow crossing a line?

Clearly, though, the government and police have already damaged both of their reputations.

Witch-hunt

The investigation was nothing more than a witch-hunt designed to unnerve anyone standing up for Palestine.

In a country where most sexual offences go unsolved, the government and police think a good use of their time is intimidating a pop-trio standing up for dead babies. If nothing else, that shows you the morals of the people both governing and policing us.

Over and over again, the police have overstepped when it comes to shutting down protests against genocide. They are disguising their own police harassment as ‘anti-terror policing’.

The police would charge anyone else for wasting their time.

It should not take a band to set the standard for leadership by standing up against genocide. But here we are.

At least the police have now backed off. However, they had already done serious reputational damage to a band that has shown more morals than every police force in the country, and the government, put together.

Featured image via the Canary

By HG

This post was originally published on Canary.