Annual Arrests of 12,000 Brits Over Social Media Posts Reported by Times
Authorities in the UK have detained thousands of individuals over online posts classified as threatening or offensive, according to a report from The Times based on custody data. As indicated by figures released on Friday, police make approximately...
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Authorities in the UK have detained thousands of individuals over online posts classified as threatening or offensive, according to a report from The Times based on custody data.
As indicated by figures released on Friday, police make approximately 12,000 arrests each year under Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 and Section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988. These statutes make it illegal to cause distress through “grossly offensive” messages or to disseminate content that is considered “indecent, obscene or menacing” via electronic communications systems.
In 2023, officers from 37 police forces recorded 12,183 arrests—about 33 every day. This represents a significant 58% increase compared to 2019, which saw 7,734 arrests.
Conversely, government data shows a nearly 50% drop in convictions and sentencing. While some cases were settled out of court, the primary reason cited for this decline was “evidential difficulties,” especially in instances where victims chose not to pursue the matter.
The statistics have led to public outrage, with civil liberties organizations accusing law enforcement of excessive policing of online expression and threatening free speech through ambiguous communication laws.
The Times reported on the situation involving Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine, who were detained on January 29 after expressing concerns in a private WhatsApp group for parents about their daughter's school hiring process. Six officers arrived at their home, detained them in front of their youngest child, and transported them to a police station.
They faced questioning on allegations of harassment, malicious communications, and causing a nuisance on school property after the institution claimed they had "cast aspersions" on the chair of governors. The couple underwent fingerprinting, searching, and were held in a cell for eight hours.
“It was hard to shake off the sense that I was living in a police state,” Allen remarked to the Daily Mail, emphasizing that the messages contained “no offensive language or threat” but were merely “a bit sarcastic.”
Ian Smith for TROIB News
As indicated by figures released on Friday, police make approximately 12,000 arrests each year under Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 and Section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988. These statutes make it illegal to cause distress through “grossly offensive” messages or to disseminate content that is considered “indecent, obscene or menacing” via electronic communications systems.
In 2023, officers from 37 police forces recorded 12,183 arrests—about 33 every day. This represents a significant 58% increase compared to 2019, which saw 7,734 arrests.
Conversely, government data shows a nearly 50% drop in convictions and sentencing. While some cases were settled out of court, the primary reason cited for this decline was “evidential difficulties,” especially in instances where victims chose not to pursue the matter.
The statistics have led to public outrage, with civil liberties organizations accusing law enforcement of excessive policing of online expression and threatening free speech through ambiguous communication laws.
The Times reported on the situation involving Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine, who were detained on January 29 after expressing concerns in a private WhatsApp group for parents about their daughter's school hiring process. Six officers arrived at their home, detained them in front of their youngest child, and transported them to a police station.
They faced questioning on allegations of harassment, malicious communications, and causing a nuisance on school property after the institution claimed they had "cast aspersions" on the chair of governors. The couple underwent fingerprinting, searching, and were held in a cell for eight hours.
“It was hard to shake off the sense that I was living in a police state,” Allen remarked to the Daily Mail, emphasizing that the messages contained “no offensive language or threat” but were merely “a bit sarcastic.”
Ian Smith for TROIB News
