Malicious Communications
Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FIN/26/4200
Version Date: 02/02/2026
The Performance Analysis Department has provided the following information:
This data has been extracted from the Niche Crime database using the relevant SC Descriptions or CJS Codes
We then filtered this by arrests and then by Latest Stats Class status. Please note that arrests are individuals, and the stats class status is applied to the entire occurrence
For each of the years 2024 and 2025 the number of arrests made by your force for each of the following offences
o Section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988
o Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003
o Section 179, Part 10, of the Online Safety Act 2023 (false communications)
o Section 191, Part 10, of the Online Safety Act 2023 (threatening communications)
|
Offence CJS code |
Offence Wording |
2024 |
2025 |
|
CA03005 |
Send by public communication network an offensive / indecent / obscene / menacing message / matter |
8 |
18 |
|
CA03006 |
Cause to be sent by public communication network an offensive / indecent / obscene / menacing message / matter |
6 |
7 |
|
CA03009 |
Persistently make use of public communication network to cause annoyance / inconvenience / anxiety |
2 |
2 |
|
MT88005 |
Send communication / article of an indecent / offensive nature |
6 |
8 |
|
MT88006 |
Send letter / communication / article conveying indecent / offensive message |
1 |
3 |
|
MT88007 |
Send letter / communication / article conveying a threatening message |
1 |
|
|
OS23002 |
Send communication threatening death or serious harm |
2 |
5 |
|
SX03248 |
Send photograph or film of genitals to cause alarm, distress or humiliation |
2 |
|
|
Total |
26 |
45 |