Here's an interesting information age/ big brother zinger...
Britain's police state unmasked: Map reveals shocking numbers clapped in handcuffs over 'offensive' social media posts
Britain's police state can today be unmasked as the Daily Mail can reveal which forces have made the most arrests for 'offensive' posts on social media.
Figures obtained by the Daily Mail show that some forces are making arrests for 'offensive' social media posts at 'extremely concerning' rates.
Cumbria Constabulary had the nation's highest arrest rate of 42.5 per 100,000 population (217 arrests) in 2024, 20 times higher than Staffordshire Police's low rate of 2.1 (21 arrests).
Gwent Police came second with a rate of 33.9, a total of 204 arrests.
The crime of sending 'grossly offensive' messages or sharing content of an 'indecent, obscene or menacing character' on electronic communications networks is punishable by up to two years' imprisonment or an unlimited fine.
But thousands of people have been detained and questioned for sending messages that simply cause annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety to others.
The alarming differences in arrest rates have provoked criticism from civil liberties groups, who say that some authorities are over-policing the internet and threatening free speech through 'vague' communications laws.
Maya Thomas, legal and policy officer at Big Brother Watch, a civil liberties group, said the number of arrests is 'extremely concerning' in a liberal democracy like the UK.
Total arrests fell to 9,700 last year from a record high of 13,800 in 2023, but remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.
And yet another notorious example of police overreach was that of 71-year-old retired special constable Julian Foulkes in November 2023.
He was detained at his home by six officers from Kent Police - the same force he gave ten years of his life to - after he questioned a supporter of pro-Palestine demonstrations on X in November 2023.
Mr Foulkes had mocked an account supporting the pro-Palestine protests, saying: 'One step away from storming Heathrow looking for Jewish arrivals'.
Officers searched his home and made comments on his 'very Brexity' book collection, before seizing his devices and detaining him for eight hours.
In 2025, Kent Police admitted the caution was a mistake and deleted it from Mr Foulkes's record, and also awarded him £20,000 in compensation for the ordeal.
Britain's police state can today be unmasked as the Daily Mail can reveal which forces have made the most arrests for 'offensive' posts on social media.
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