Tom Skinner fumes 'police have gone soft' as BBC Strictly star recalls own arrest ordeal compared to modern policing

“When I got arrested in 2011 I got dragged out my van by police, thrown on the floor and booted in the stomach,” Mr Skinner wrote.

“I deserved it,” he added. “I was breaking the law and being an unbearable little s*** to the police.”

Mr Skinner went on to describe witnessing an altercation while sitting in traffic, claiming two officers appeared to take no action as a man shouted aggressively at them.

“I’m just sitting in traffic and witnessed a bloke screaming at the top of his lungs at two police officers and they was just standing there doing nothing,” he said.

“Have the police in this country gone soft, or is there too many restrictions and they’re too worried about getting complaints?”

The TV star said he now respects the police and has “turned his life around”, but questioned whether fear of authority played a role in preventing crime.

“I do feel like if people was more afraid of the police there would be less petty crime. Am I right or wrong here?” he asked, signing off the post with his trademark phrase: “Bosh.”

Supporters quickly flooded the comments, with many backing Mr Skinner’s stance. “I feel many long-serving police officers have left or been forced out and been replaced by very young, liberal kids,” one user wrote.

“They’d rather knock on your door over a social media post than protect the public from real criminals.”

Another commented: “The police should feel safe and trustworthy for anyone that needs help, and broadly quite intimidating for everybody else.”

When I get arrested in 2011 I got dragged out my van by Police thrown on the floor and booted in the stomach. I deserved it, I was breaking the law and was being an absolute unbearable little shit to the police. I’m just sitting in traffic and witnessed a bloke screaming at the…

— Thomas Skinner ⚒ (@iamtomskinner) January 7, 2026

Others echoed concerns about what they described as a culture of “gentle policing". One added bluntly: “Streets feel different now.”

However, not all responses were supportive. One user questioned Mr Skinner’s account of events, writing: “Mate, you’re the same age as me. No old bill gave you a shoe in unless you were trying to fight them. You weren’t getting nicked in the 80s, it was 2011. Stop making stuff up to fit a narrative.”

Another simply replied: “You’re always wrong.”

This is not the first time the mattress salesman has criticised the police. Speaking at a July 2025 conference hosted by the Roger Scruton Foundation, he argued for increased police powers and claimed officers were “p***ies at the minute”.

In an August 2023 YouTube interview, he was also quoted as saying: “Police look like they don’t care,” while discussing broader social issues.

Away from policing debates, Mr Skinner has frequently used his platform to speak out about his experiences in the entertainment industry.

Most recently, the businessman was embroiled in a dispute surrounding his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing.

In December 2025, Mr Skinner sought legal advice against the BBC, alleging the broadcaster had rigged the public vote to eliminate him early from the competition.

He claimed to possess an anonymous email from a “BBC exec” containing voting statistics that allegedly showed he had received significantly more public support than the official results suggested.

The BBC and independent auditor PromoVeritas have strongly denied the claims, stating that Strictly’s voting process is independently verified. The BBC also said Mr Skinner has failed to share the alleged email despite repeated requests.

Mr Skinner later posted a series of lengthy statements on X detailing his grievances and explaining his decision to boycott the Strictly final.

He further claimed the anonymous email suggested BBC executives were “very angry and nervous” about his friendship with US Vice President JD Vance, an assertion the broadcaster has dismissed.

The Strictly star has also alleged that he was the only contestant whose “welcome gift” was stolen, describing it as part of what he believes was a wider pattern of unfair treatment.