Police used “Orwellian” powers to gag a firefighter and prevent him revealing he had been arrested after posting online messages criticising his bosses.

Staffordshire Police told Robert Moss that his right to “freedom of expression” had to be “limited to maintain public safety and order” following his arrest on suspicion of malicious communications.

But a special bail hearing at Newcastle-Under-Lyme magistrates’ court overturned the “gagging clause” amid fears officers were behaving as if they lived in a “police state”.

Now Mr Moss, who was never charged with a crime but had his home raided, said he believes “heavy-handed” police were “weaponised” to silence him.

It is the latest example of claims that some police forces are using draconian powers to curtail freedom of speech.
it being illegal to tell people you were arrested is the weirdest thing ever