Malicious Communications

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FIN/25/003745/N

Version Date: 17/10/2025

It has been reported that freedom of Information and Ministry of Justice data suggest that in 2023, 35 (out of 43) police forces in England and Wales made over 12,000 arrests for offences under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 and Communications Act 2003, equating to over 30 arrests per day.

In respect of your police force, please can you tell me; in 2023, for each monitored thread (including age if you record that):
1)         How many complaints were recorded?
2)         How many investigations resulted from those complaints?
3)         How many non-crime hate incidents were recorded as a consequence of those investigations?
4)         How many arrests were made in respect of the complaints
5)         How many arrests resulted in
a)         No further action?
b)        Formal caution?
c)         Charge?

Please provide whatever data you have available and can provide within cost limits. Please do not just say “It would take too long and be too expensive.”

The table below might be helpful for recording the data.

The Performance Analysis Department has provided the following information:

Searches were completed in Niche for all crimes with HO Stats Codes that fall within the Acts specified within the request. Searches were also completed within the Non-Crime Hate Incidents (NCHI) database and this resulted a nil return. This is because the HO Stats Codes searched under have been crimed, therefore, they can’t be NCHIs as well.

Please note the following:

• No information is held for age related hate strand. This information is not recorded.
• All complaints are investigated to some extent.
• *2 occurrences had the following outcomes:
• ‘22: Diversionary, educational or intervention activity, has been undertaken and there is no public interest to continue’
• ‘8: Community resolution’