Mike Freer: Man arrested over alleged ‘threatening’ call to Tory MP

A man has been arrested after MP Mike Freer reported receiving a threatening phone call.

Mr Freer, currently a minister and the MP for Finchley and Golders Green, last week said he would not be standing for election after a raft of death threats and abuse.

He said an arson attack on his office on Christmas Eve was the “last straw”.

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The Metropolitan Police said in a statement today officers had arrested someone following a report of an “abusive and threatening” phone call made on Wednesday last week – the day Mr Freer spoke about his decision to stand down.

A Met spokesperson said: “An investigation was launched and a 46-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday, 6 February on suspicion of malicious communication.

“He remains in custody at a north London police station.”

The police said this was a separate investigation to the arson attack.

The spokesperson added: “A man and a woman have been remanded in custody after being charged with arson with intent to endanger life.

“Our investigation established the offence was not a hate crime and the two incidents are not believed to be linked.”

Detective Superintendent Will Lexton-Jones said: “It is vitally important for elected officials and their staff they can be confident in their safety and security, and we are committed to ensuring this.

“Today’s arrest sends a clear message we will not tolerate threats or aggression of any kind towards elected officials. We will deal quickly and robustly with such offences.

“We are in regular contact with MPs and other elected officials and fully recognise the growing concerns they are telling us about their safety, and as you would expect, we have kept Mr Freer updated throughout this investigation including today’s arrest.”

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, said last week that safety measures were kept under review and that parliament works “very closely with all the police forces around the country”.

The issue of MPs’ safety has become more prominent in the wake of the killings of Jo Cox and Sir David Amess.

Operation Bridger is a national policing operation which supports MPs across the UK.

This has included regional security briefings for MPs and other elected officials.

“Where particular concerns are identified, security arrangements are reviewed, adapted and strengthened as appropriate,” the Met spokesperson added.

“We continue to review the support we provide to MPs and their staff to ensure we have the right measures in place to keep them safe.