Update: Investigation into sharing of image online

Enquiries into the sharing of an image on social media earlier this week have concluded.

On Monday, 27 July, police received a third-party report relating to an image shared on Instagram. Other reports about the same image, which showed a man wearing a t-shirt with a picture of a guillotine and accompanying text, have since been received.

Officers have reviewed the reports, giving careful consideration to whether further action should follow.

That review reached the following conclusions:

• It is unlikely that the sharing of the image online would constitute a criminal offence. Officers have considered telecommunications, public order and other offences, including incitement, in reaching this conclusion.
• The image in question was the 18^th in a post containing 20 images. The person named on the reports received has stated publicly, either directly or in statements issued on his behalf, that he had not seen the specific image in question when he accepted the invitation to collaborate. Steps were taken to remove the post from his account when the issue was raised.
• The post has since been shared (whether by collaboration, reposting or sharing) by around 130 accounts. The image has additionally been shared on many more occasions on other social media platforms. We must not treat individuals differently solely because of their public profile, and therefore any investigation would need to have considered not just the actions of the individual named in the reports, but of all 130+ people and organisations. Given it is unlikely their actions would have ultimately constituted an offence, such an extensive investigation was deemed to do be disproportionate and not a reasonable use of police resources.

Accordingly, no further action will be taken in relation to the sharing of the image online.

We have, however, determined that a crime should be recorded in relation to the wearing of the t-shirt. The event where that occurred took place in Bristol and as a result, we have transferred the crime report to Avon and Somerset Police. They will consider what further action should now follow.

A Met Police spokesperson said:“We absolutely understand the reaction to this image being shared online, particularly in the context of increasing threats towards politicians.

“We take the safety and security of those in public life, including politicians, very seriously. Where we identify threats we take appropriate action and where there is evidence of offences we will investigate.

“While there will be people who will argue that those who shared the image in this Instagram post should be subject to criminal action, our review has concluded that on this occasion, the threshold is not met. We have spoken with those impacted to explain that decision making and to provide reassurance around our ongoing commitment to their security and the additional support available.”