Police in England will not bring charges against Bob Vylan following an investigation into the punk-rap duo’s chants of “Death, death, to the I.D.F.” (referring to the Israel Defense Forces) and “Free, free Palestine” at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival.
The Avon and Somerset Constabulary in England announced the end of its investigation on Tuesday, Dec. 23.
“We have concluded, after reviewing all the evidence, that [the chant] does not meet the criminal threshold outlined by the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] for any person to be prosecuted,” the police said. “No further action will be taken on the basis there is insufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction.”
The police shared some details about the investigation, saying they consulted with the CPS, another police force, the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s hate crimes department, an independent lawyer, and representatives “among our Jewish communities.” They also revealed that they “conducted a voluntary police interview” with a man in his mid-thirties in November (though he was not identified), and spoke with about 200 people who had attended the festival.
“We sought specific consideration around the words stated, in terms of the intent behind them, the wider context of how people heard what was said, case law and anything else potentially relevant, including freedom of speech,” the police said. “Every case must be treated on its own merits.”
Bob Vylan did not immediately return Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.
Bob Vylan frontman, Bobby Vylan (real name Pascal Robinson-Foster) led the chants during the band’s performance at Glastonbury on June 28. Condemnation and accusations of antisemitism quickly followed, as Glastonbury organizers denounced the chant, the United States revoked the band’s travel visas, and other festivals started dropping Bob Vylan from their lineups. The police investigation began in July.
The band, long supporters of Palestine, stood by the chants and denied the allegations of antisemitism. In an initial Instagram post, Bobby Vylan wrote, “I said what I said,” adding that he had received “messages of both support and hatred.”
In July, the band issued a statement affirming a peaceful stance. “We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs, or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. A machine whose own soldiers were told to use ‘unnecessary lethal force’ against innocent civilians waiting for aid. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza. We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story. And whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction.”
The decision to end the investigation comes months after Avon and Somerset authorities announced it was ending an investigation into similar comments at the same festival from the Irish trio Kneecap due to “insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence.”
