Met Police reveal arrests for 'offensive' social media posts up by a third
The number of arrests made for sending 'offensive' messages via social media has increased by more than a third (37 per cent) in the last five years.
According to reports, 2,500 Londoners have been arrested by the Metropolitan Police for breaches of Section 127 of the Communications Act.
In 2010 a total of 625 arrests were made for 127 offences and in 2015 the number rose to 857. Of those 827 arrests 139 were for sending, or causing to be sent, "a false message to cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety," a 71 per cent increase from 2011.
From 2010-2015 2,130 people were arrested for "sending by public communication network an offensive/indecent/obscene/menacing message/matter" which is a criminal offence under section 127.
The figures, revealed by the Metropolitan Police under Freedom of Information request, revealed arrests declined in 2013 before peaking again in 2015.
A breach of section 127 currently carries a potential size month prison term or a fine of up to £5,000.