At approximately 10pm on 13 May 2007, Tarrant was arrested on suspicion of assault at an Indian restaurant and released on police bail. The alleged incident took place at the MemSaab Restaurant in Maid Marian Way, Nottingham.

It has been alleged that Tarrant, after joking with a couple dining in the restaurant, threw an item of cutlery in the man's direction.

Tarrant admitted to the BBC that he did jokingly "lob" some cutlery onto the couple's table after asking them to leave him alone to discuss work with his colleagues.