Fact check: UK police make 30 arrests per day for online messages

1. Summary of the results

The claim that UK police make 30 arrests per day for online messages is strongly supported by multiple sources, with some indicating the actual figure may be even higher. The European Parliament documentation confirms that police make over 30 arrests per day for 'offensive' online communications ^[1]. Multiple sources consistently report approximately 12,000 arrests annually under relevant legislation, which translates to roughly 33 arrests per day ^{[2] [3] [1]}.

The arrests are primarily made under Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 and Section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988 for posts deemed threatening or offensive ^[3]. Parliamentary records indicate that the number of arrests has broadly doubled in the past seven years, though many arrests do not result in cases going to court ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement lacks several crucial pieces of context:

• Legal framework: The arrests occur under specific legislation with vague definitions of what constitutes "offensive" communications, raising concerns about subjective enforcement ^[1]
• Prosecution rates: Many of these arrests do not lead to crimes going to court, suggesting potential overreach in initial detention decisions ^[4]
• Recent escalation: The summer riots saw more than 30 people arrested specifically over social media posts during that period alone, indicating potential spikes during times of social unrest ^[5]
• Monitoring expansion: UK authorities have established elite police units specifically to monitor social media for anti-migrant content and signs of unrest, representing a significant expansion of online surveillance capabilities ^{[6] [7] [8]}

Civil liberties groups and opposition politicians have criticized these developments as potential threats to free speech, while law enforcement argues they are necessary for public safety ^[8].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement, while factually accurate, presents an incomplete picture that could mislead readers:

• Understates the scale: By citing "30 arrests per day," it actually underrepresents the true figure, which sources indicate is "over 30" or approximately 33 daily ^[1]
• Lacks legal context: The statement fails to mention that these arrests occur under specific communications legislation with broad definitions that have drawn criticism for their vagueness ^{[1] [3]}
• Omits outcome data: It doesn't acknowledge that many arrests don't result in court proceedings, which could suggest either appropriate police discretion or potential overreach depending on one's perspective ^[4]
• Missing trend information: The statement doesn't indicate this represents a doubling over seven years, which provides important context about the trajectory of online speech policing ^[4]

The statement appears neutral but could benefit from additional context about the legal framework, prosecution rates, and the ongoing debate about balancing free speech with public safety concerns.