DoubleChecks

What was claimed

Scotland Yard called a reporter investigating a Cambridge professor for plagiarism and told him to stop asking questions because it was affecting the professor's mental health. Police warning journalists not to investigate.

Our verdict

Accurate

Reports on the case of Times Higher Education journalist Jack Grove state that the Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) called him after a harassment complaint was made, told him the case had been investigated, and instructed him not to contact Cambridge professor Jason Arday again because his questions had affected Arday's mental health.

2 of 3 AI systems agree13 sources citedChecked Aug 5, 2026

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Key findings

Police warning journalists not to investigate.

Misleading77%
2 of 3 AIs agree·Perplexity: Verified

Scotland Yard called a reporter investigating a Cambridge professor for plagiarism and told him to stop asking questions because it was affecting the professor's mental health.

Verified90%
All 3 AIs agree

Scotland Yard told the reporter to stop asking questions

Verified95%
1 AI checked

The reason given was that it was affecting the professor's mental health

Verified95%
1 AI checked

Verified against 13 sources

aol.comreddit.combbc.comaol.comtheguardian.comfacebook.comyoutube.comnytimes.comarbiterz.comyahoo.comretractionwatch.comtelegraph.co.uktimeshighereducation.com

Detailed Analysis

The core event described in the AI response is supported by multiple independent news reports and primary statements. Some wording is slightly compressed, but it accurately reflects that the Metropolitan Police contacted a journalist investigating a Cambridge professor about plagiarism and told him to stop contacting the professor due to mental health concerns.

Why this verdict

  • The core event described in the AI response is supported by multiple independent news reports and primary statements.
  • Some wording is slightly compressed, but it accurately reflects that the Metropolitan Police contacted a journalist investigating a Cambridge professor about plagiarism and told him to stop contacting the professor due to mental health concerns.

Claims checked

Police warning journalists not to investigate.

Verified90%
The officer explicitly told the journalist not to contact the professor again in relation to his inquiries, which the journalist and multiple outlets characterise as police intervening in and chilling journalistic investigation of a plagiarism story.[1] [2] [11]

Scotland Yard called a reporter investigating a Cambridge professor for plagiarism and told him to stop asking questions because it was affecting the professor's mental health.

Verified94%
Reports on the case of Times Higher Education journalist Jack Grove state that the Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) called him after a harassment complaint was made, told him the case had been investigated, and instructed him not to contact Cambridge professor Jason Arday again because his questions had affected Arday's mental health.[1] [2]

What other AI think

The statement accurately describes a recent incident involving Scotland Yard, journalist Jack Grove, and Cambridge professor Jason Arday. All major claims are factually supported by multiple credible sources from August 2026.

Why this verdict

  • The statement accurately describes a recent incident involving Scotland Yard, journalist Jack Grove, and Cambridge professor Jason Arday.
  • All major claims are factually supported by multiple credible sources from August 2026.

Claims checked

Police warning journalists not to investigate

Misleading85%
While the police did warn this specific journalist, the characterization as a general warning to journalists is overstated. This was a single incident involving one officer's comments to one journalist, not a formal police policy or broader warning to the press.

This claim may mislead readers without added context.

Scotland Yard called a reporter investigating a Cambridge professor for plagiarism

Verified95%
Scotland Yard (Metropolitan Police) did contact journalist Jack Grove regarding his investigation into Cambridge professor Jason Arday's plagiarism allegations.

Scotland Yard told the reporter to stop asking questions

Verified95%
Officers explicitly told Grove to stop contacting Professor Arday, as confirmed by multiple sources citing Grove's own account.
Reporting shows a Metropolitan Police officer told Times Higher Education reporter Jack Grove he should not contact Professor Jason Arday because Arday’s mental health had been affected. That specific incident is documented. However the broader claim that police are generally "warning journalists not to investigate" is an overgeneralisation not supported by available evidence.

Why this verdict

  • Reporting shows a Metropolitan Police officer told Times Higher Education reporter Jack Grove he should not contact Professor Jason Arday because Arday’s mental health had been affected.
  • That specific incident is documented.
  • However the broader claim that police are generally "warning journalists not to investigate" is an overgeneralisation not supported by available evidence.

Claims checked

Police warning journalists not to investigate.

Misleading70%
Evidence shows one reported phone contact in this case, but it does not support a general practice or policy of police broadly warning journalists not to investigate.

This claim may mislead readers without added context.

Scotland Yard called a reporter investigating a Cambridge professor for plagiarism and told him to stop asking questions because it was affecting the professor's mental health.

Verified80%
Retraction Watch and reporting about Jack Grove (Times Higher Education) describe a Met officer telling him not to contact Jason Arday because the professor’s mental health had been affected.

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