Police drop investigation into Bob Vylan Glastonbury chants after CPS advice
Avon and Somerset Police say evidence does not meet prosecution threshold despite widespread Jewish community concern
Avon and Somerset Police have concluded their criminal investigation into on-stage comments made during a performance by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury Festival, confirming that no further action will be taken after legal advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the force said it had carried out an extensive, “evidence-led” investigation into remarks made during the band’s set on 28 June, which was broadcast live by the BBC and sparked widespread anger, particularly within Jewish communities.
Police say they shared early findings with the Crown Prosecution Service in July and received detailed guidance in October on the evidential bar required for any prosecution relating to a public order offence. Further enquiries were then undertaken, including a voluntary interview under caution with a man in his mid-thirties, understood to be the band’s frontman, and follow-up contact with around 200 members of the public who had raised concerns.
The force said it also sought advice from other police services that had dealt with comparable cases, consulted National Police Chiefs’ Council hate crime leads, and obtained further opinions from the CPS and an independent barrister. The final legal advice was received on Monday.
After reviewing all material, police concluded there was “insufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction”, meaning the criminal threshold set by the CPS had not been met.
While confirming the outcome, Avon and Somerset Police stressed that the decision should not be seen as minimising the impact of the comments. The force acknowledged that the chants had caused deep distress and said it had engaged directly with Jewish community representatives throughout the investigation to provide updates and reassurance.
The announcement follows earlier reporting that Bob Vylan’s vocalist, Pascal Robinson-Foster, had previously used similar language at a separate London performance weeks before Glastonbury. Police have not confirmed whether any further action will be taken in relation to that earlier event.
In the aftermath of Glastonbury, festival organisers said they were “appalled” by the chants, the BBC admitted it should have cut away from the live broadcast, and the Culture Secretary publicly criticised the corporation’s handling of the performance. Both members of the band later had their US visas revoked ahead of a planned tour.
Police said they remain committed to working with communities across the region, adding that “there is no place in society for hate of any kind,” even where criminal law sets a high bar for prosecution.
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