Fact check: UK police Police make 30 arrests a day for offensive online messages

1. Summary of the results

The original statement is largely accurate but slightly understated. Multiple sources confirm that UK police made 12,183 arrests in 2023, which actually amounts to approximately 33 arrests per day for offensive online messages ^{[1] [2]}. These arrests are made under specific legislation: Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 and Section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988, which target "grossly offensive" electronic communications ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial pieces of context are missing from the original statement:

• There has been a significant increase in these arrests - up 58% from 7,734 in 2019 ^{[1] [1]}
• Geographic distribution varies significantly:

The Metropolitan Police made the highest number of arrests ^{[3] [4]}

Leicestershire police had the highest rate per 100,000 people ^{[5] [1]}

• The arrests cover messages that "annoy, inconvenience or disturb others" across various communication platforms ^[6]
• There are ongoing legal debates about the balance between policing online communication and protecting freedom of expression, as evidenced by the Miller case ^[7]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement oversimplifies a complex issue by:

• Not mentioning the significant civil liberties concerns raised by these arrests ^{[6] [1]}
• Failing to specify the exact laws being enforced and their scope ^[1]
• Not providing context about the increasing trend in arrests ^[1]

Beneficiaries of different narratives:

• Law enforcement agencies benefit from presenting these arrests as necessary public safety measures
• Civil liberties groups and free speech advocates benefit from highlighting potential overreach in enforcement
• Politicians may benefit from either narrative depending on their stance on online regulation and free speech