The Home Secretary has criticised the Sussex police force for "policing pronouns" after they commented on Twitter that they would not tolerate hateful comments about a child sex offender's gender identity.

Twitter erupted after the Sussex Force issued a press release that labelled Sally Ann Dixon, formerly John Stephen Dixon, as a woman.Suella Braverman would intervene in the row and argue that the police should "focus on catching criminals" rather than spending their time on the social media platform.

Sussex Police have apologised after the Home Secretary accused it of "playing identity politics and denying biology" on the sexual offences committed by a transgender woman years before transitioning.

The Sussex Police had insisted it does not "tolerate any hateful comments" about gender identity "Regardless of crimes committed"and informed Twitter users that hateful comments surrounding the child sex offender's gender identity would not be tolerated.

Responding to the initial tweet, Home Secretary Suella Braverman expressed that the force should "focus on catching criminals not policing pronouns" after Sally Ann Dixon, of Swanmore Avenue, Havant, Hants, was jailed for 20 years having been convicted of 30 indecent assaults.

7 children were sexually abused between 26 to 33 years ago. Sally Ann Dixon was given an 18-year custodial sentence with an additional 2 years to be served on an extended license.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Sussex Police said: "We reported factually on the findings of the court which heard that, at the time of the offences, Dixon was living as a man, John Stephen Dixon.

"The relevant offences were recorded as being committed by a male.

"An earlier reply to a comment on Twitter was inconsistent with our usual style of engagement; we apologise for this and have removed the comment.

"We recognise the rights of the public to express themselves freely within the boundaries of the law."

Braverman responded to the tweets and said: "The best police officers focus on solving crimes and supporting victims. Not political correctness."