Man arrested after Michael Le Vell sex case victim is named on Twitter
Police in England have confirmed that they have made an arrest after the victim in a high profile rape case was named via Twitter.
Actor Michael Le Vell
Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell is being tried on rape charges in a case that is drawing national media attention.
Greater Manchester Police said it had made an arrest, and a 43-year-old man from the Gloucester area is in custody on suspicion of breaching S(1) Sexual Offences Act 1992.
The act provides anonymity for victims of sex abuse.
“Public identification of victims of sex abuse, in particular child victims engaged in court proceedings, can cause both immediate and long term distress and harm, especially in cases as serious as this,” a police spokesman said.
“The same principles apply to social media as they do to the mainstream media, and we are investigating this matter robustly.
"Social media is a fantastic tool for self-expression and part of modern life, but users should ask themselves whether they would want their own child subject to a Twitter feed.
"People may not understand that when they use social media they are required by the law to keep victims anonymous in exactly the same way as people who work in mainstream media.
"The rule of law and consciousness of a sex abuse victim's anonymity should be considered by all who follow these types of cases."