Mike Freer: Man charged over threatening call made to MP

A man has been charged in connection with threatening behaviour towards Conservative MP Mike Freer.

The Met Police said James Phillips, 46, of north London, had been charged with malicious communications.

Mr Freer's office reported on 1 February that the minister had received an abusive phone call the previous day, the police said.

The MP for Finchley and Golders Green is to stand down at the next election over safety fears.

Mr Phillips, who was arrested on Tuesday, is also charged with assaulting a police officer, the Met Police said.

He will appear at Willesden Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

A separate investigation into an arson attack at the MP's office in Finchley, north London, on Christmas Eve is ongoing, with a man and a woman charged with arson with intent to endanger life, the Met added.

The force said its investigation had established the offence was not a hate crime and the two incidents were not believed to be linked.

Det Supt Will Lexton-Jones, from the local policing team in north-west London, said: "It is vitally important for elected officials and their staff they can be confident in their safety and security, and we are committed to ensuring this.

"Today's arrest sends a clear message we will not tolerate threats or aggression of any kind towards elected officials. We will deal quickly and robustly with such offences."