Arrest warning after police officer abused on Facebook

Derbyshire Police Headquarters stock image. Image by LDRS/Nigel Slater.

By Nigel Slater – Local Democracy Reporting Service

People could face arrest after a Derbyshire Police officer was abused on Facebook, the force has warned.

The warning comes after dozens of comments were directed towards a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) one one of the force’s verified Facebook pages where the officer was telling people what their Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) was working on.

However, the officer was inundated with more than 200 comments, of which police said many were “personal and abusive towards the person in the post”.

In a statement condemning the abuse, the SNT said the officer was abused for “simply doing their job” and the comments had a “big impact” on them.

It said a PCSO’s job involves speaking to the community, both in person and online and that they are “the friendly face of the force”.

The SNT post said: “Everyone who appears on our social media channels is a real person, with real feelings and is deserving of respect. We will not tolerate abusive comments directed at our staff. Where comments cross the line, we will take action.”

When pressed on what action could be, the Local Democracy Reporting Service was told: “Further action can be taken – this can include arrest.”

Derbyshire Police superintendent Rebecca Webster said: “As police officers and staff, we expect, and fully understand, that our actions will face scrutiny.

“However, what is utterly intolerable are comments that target individuals not because of their competencies or abilities, but simply based on their gender, their ethnicity, or perceived sexuality.

“These are people who work every day keeping our communities safe – in roles that many would be unwilling to do but will call upon when they are in need.

“Freedom of speech is a qualified right – not absolute – and where individuals step over the line into criminal actions then these will be reviewed and, if necessary, further action can be taken – this can include arrest.”