A free speech row has erupted after police used "Orwellian" powers and prevented a firefighter from disclosing that he had been arrested after he criticising his bosses online.
Robert Moss, 56, was told by Staffordshire Police that his free speech rights had to be "limited to maintain public safety and order" after being arrested on suspicion of malicious communications.
However, the "gagging clause" was overturned at a special bail hearing at Newcastle-Under-Lyme magistrates' court.
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Robert Moss, 56, was told by Staffordshire Police that his free speech rights had to be 'limited to maintain public safety and order'
| GETTYMr Moss had worked for Staffordshire fire and rescue service for 28 years before being dismissed in 2021, even serving as the secretary of the UK's Fire Brigade Union.
However, an employment tribunal ruled that the 56-year-old had been wrongfully removed from his post, with a judgement describing it as an "unfair" decision.
After the tribunal, the father-of-one made several comments criticising the fire service's management in a private Facebook group, which he also used to offer advice to fellow firefighters.
This prompted police officers to raid his home in the early hours of the morning last month and seize two phones, a computer and an iPad.
Mr Moss was never formally charged with a crime.
Police officers to raid his home in the early hours of the morning last month and seize two phones, a computer and an iPad
|GETTY
After his arrest, the 56-year old was granted bail on six conditions, including a ban on posting anything online referencing the county's fire service or any communication regarding the investigation.
He was also forbidden from making contact with the fire chief officer, Bob Barber, and deputy, Glynn Luznyj.
Mr Moss told The Telegraph: “I feel strongly that, under a joint police and fire commissioner, the police and fire services are hand-in-glove and the fire service had weaponised the police to silence me.
“I was a critic of Staffordshire fire service and I had been gagged from saying anything about individuals there, the service itself and my arrest.
"That is a breach of my human rights.”
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Sam Armstrong from the Free Speech Union described the events as "amongst the most egregious abuses of state power" the group had seen
| FREE SPEECH UNIONTom Beardsworth, representing Mr Moss, said during the magistrates' court hearing that two of the bail conditions place on him indicated a "deep threat to the right of free expression".
The barrister said: "For the police to prohibit an arrested person from speaking about their arrest is extraordinary and Orwellian, and it is not hyperbole to put it in those terms.
"We do not live in a police state and Mr Moss should have every right to speak about his arrest."
The Free Speech Union's legislative affairs director, Sam Armstrong, described the events as "amongst the most egregious abuses of state power" the group had seen.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "We arrested a 56-year-old man, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, on Tuesday 8 July, on suspicion of harassment without violence, sending communication/article of an indecent/offensive nature and knowingly/recklessly obtain or disable personal data without consent of the controller.
"The man has been released on conditional bail as our enquiries continue."
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service have said it would not be appropriate to comment as the proceedings are still active.