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Twitter Stan Collymore

Stan Collymore hits out at Twitter for failing to supply police with racist tweeters' identities

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By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

July 29, 2014 | 4 min read

Stan Collymore has slammed Twitter for failing to provide UK police with information that could help apprehend users who have been bombarding him with racist and threatening abuse.

Collymore is now a radio and tv broadcaster

The former footballer has published an email which he claims shows how powerless police are when handling abuse cases on the social network.

This comes after Staffordshire Police today let four teenagers who had sent Collymore racist and abusive tweets earlier this year off with a warning.

In the last few days, the ex-Liverpool forward has recieved highly offensive tweets from anonymous individuals.

Collymore, now a radio and TV presenter, was angry this afternoon when Twitter claimed they could not contact Staffordshire Police, who dropped their probe into his abuse.

Nevertheless, Collymore was understanding towards the police's situation and called for a change to UK law.

On the abuse, chief inspector Steve Morrey, said: "A thorough and detailed investigation was launched by Staffordshire Police following the abuse directed at Mr Collymore on Twitter earlier this year.

"After inquiries were carried out four juveniles were located and dealt with through restorative justice. Mr Collymore was aware of this and happy with the process."

However Morrey remarked that it was very difficult to apprehend those responsible for abuse on the social network.

"Despite repeated requests for information made to Twitter regarding a number of other users we wanted to speak to in connection with this matter Twitter have not supplied it.

"We have also tried to obtain this information via other social media networks but to no avail. Therefore all lines of inquiry have been exhausted. The matter will be reviewed should any new information come to light.

Many took to Twitter to express their disgust with the sentiment commonly directed at the footballer.

Comedian Ricky Gervais was among those disappointed with how badly Twitter was handling the situation.

This comes after Collymore quit Twitter at the start of the year after a bust up with his ex girlfriend Ulrika Jonsson.

Twitter Stan Collymore

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