Northumbria Police will not investigate further after a Carlisle broadcaster accused JK Rowling of a ‘hate crime’.

India Willoughby, 58, accused JK Rowling of a 'hate crime' after she allegedly misgendered her on the social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter.

According to the Equality Act 2010 a person must not be discriminated against because of gender reassignment.

India Willoughby, 58, was the first transgender newsreader on British television and has been well-known in the media for her campaigns on trans rights.

She worked at ITV Border for more than 10 years and has since gone on to present the national news on Channel Five and present Loose Women.

Harry Potter author, JK Rowling, is also known for her views on sex and gender issues, often expressed on the platform X (formerly Twitter).

Her views on transgender women using female-only spaces and other controversial topics frequently prompt criticism online.

The alleged hate crime occurred earlier in March when Rowling was discussing trans women using female changing rooms on X.

In response to a commenter posting a video of Willoughby on socials, asking if Rowling thought that she should be allowed to use female changing rooms, Rowling replied, "You've sent me the wrong video.

“There isn't a lady in this one, just a man revelling in his misogynistic performance of what he thinks 'woman' means: narcissistic, shallow and exhibitionist."

In response, India Willoughby said: “JK Rowling has committed a crime.

“I’m legally a woman, she knows I’m a woman and she calls me a man.

“It’s a protected characteristic and that is a breach of both the equalities act and the gender recognition act.

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“I’ve been to the police, and I’ve reported it as an issue. I don’t know whether that is going to be a hate crime or malicious communications, but it’s a cut and dried offence.”

However, Northumbria Police disagreed and said that the comment did not meet a ‘criminal threshold’.

In a statement, Northumbria Police said: “On Monday, March 4, we received a complaint about a post on social media. While we recognise the upset this may have caused, the post was reviewed and did not meet the criminal threshold.

"The complainant has been updated of this.”