Police Close Probe Into Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury Chants, No Charges to Be Brought

Police have officially ended their investigation into punk rap duo Bob Vylan following their controversial performance at Glastonbury Festival, ruling that no criminal charges will be filed.

The probe was launched by Avon and Somerset Police after frontman Bobby Vylan led crowds in chants including “death, death to the IDF” and “free, free Palestine” during the band’s BBC-televised set in June. The moment sparked a fierce public debate, with critics accusing the group of spreading hateful rhetoric and politicians questioning why the performance was broadcast by the BBC.

After reviewing the case, police said the chants did not meet the legal standard required to bring charges. In a statement, officers said they had concluded there was “insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction” under the threshold set by the Crown Prosecution Service.

The investigation included input from police forces across the country, hate crime experts at the National Police Chiefs' Council, the CPS, and an independent barrister. Authorities said they closely examined the words used, the intent behind them, the wider context, relevant case law, and the balance with freedom of speech.

Police acknowledged the strong reaction the chants caused, saying the incident showed how words can have real-world consequences. They added that they had kept in touch with community groups, including Jewish communities, throughout the process.

Despite the decision, the fallout for the band has been significant. Bob Vylan saw their U.S. visas revoked and several shows cancelled in the weeks following Glastonbury.

Bobby Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, has shown no regret. Speaking recently on The Louis Theroux Podcast, he said he would repeat the chants if given the chance. “I’m not regretful of it. I’d do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays,” he said, adding that the backlash was “minimal compared to what people in Palestine are going through.”

Those comments drew criticism from Glastonbury co-organizer Emily Eavis, who said they ran counter to the festival’s values of “hope, unity, peace and love.”

With the police case now closed, the debate around the performance is likely to continue — highlighting the ongoing tension between political expression, public offense, and the limits of free speech on one of the world’s biggest stages.