UK Government Making an Average of 30 Arrests per Day for ‘Offensive Comments’ on Social Media
The British government, under Labour leader Keir Starmer, is currently making an average of 30 arrests per day for “offensive online comments,” according to recently released data that has reignited debate over the limits of free speech in the United Kingdom.
In 2023, a total of 12,183 arrests were made for alleged offenses related to messages deemed offensive, threatening, or disturbing, sent via social media, emails, phone calls, or other electronic means. These actions are carried out under Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 and Section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988—laws that have been criticized for their legal ambiguity.
Law enforcement agencies justify these actions by arguing that some communications may be linked to more serious contexts, such as domestic violence or repeated harassment. However, several civil rights organizations warn that many of these arrests involve provocative or distasteful posts that are not necessarily illegal.
One of the most controversial police actions took place in Hertfordshire, where six officers arrested a couple after their child’s school complained about a supposedly disrespectful email and “inappropriate” comments made in a WhatsApp group. The couple was detained for eight hours, though all charges were dropped after a five-week investigation.
Cases like this have sparked accusations of “overzealous policing” and even violations of the right to dissent. According to the group Big Brother Watch, police forces are spending disproportionate resources tracking offensive online posts, while the resolution rate for serious crimes, such as violent or sexual offenses, has dropped to just 11%.
Despite a significant increase in arrests—up 58% compared to 2019, when 7,734 cases were recorded—the number of convictions has decreased. In 2023, only 1,119 sentences were handed down for such offenses, nearly half the number recorded in 2015. In many instances, proceedings did not move forward due to lack of cooperation from the alleged victim or insufficient evidence.
Data collected by The Times shows that the Metropolitan Police tops the list with 1,709 arrests, followed by West Yorkshire (963) and Thames Valley (939). However, when adjusted for population, Leicestershire Police has the highest arrest rate, with 83 arrests per 100,000 inhabitants.
