Source · Select Committees · Petitions Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 78
The Government should monitor how effectively any new communications offences that are enacted—in particular, the...
Recommendation
The Government should monitor how effectively any new communications offences that are enacted—in particular, the Law Commission’s proposed harm-based offence—protect people from, and provide redress for victims of, online abuse, while also respecting freedom of expression online. We recommend that the Government publishes an initial review of the workings and impact of any new communications offences within the first two years after they come into force.
Government Response Summary
The government welcomes the recommendations, confirming the Bill will incorporate the Law Commission’s proposed communications offences and stating it will monitor their implementation and impact once in force. They do not explicitly commit to publishing an initial review within two years, but note that notifiable offences are already collected and published by ONS.
Paragraph Reference:
78
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
We welcome the Committee’s recommendations regarding the Law Commission’s review, ‘Modernising the Communications Offences.’ The government’s interim response to the Law Commission’s review confirmed that the Bill will incorporate the Law Commission’s recommended harmful communications offence, threatening communications offence, false communications offence. The Bill will also include the Law Commission’s recommended cyberflashing offence. We note the Committee’s comments related to the interpretation of the harm-based offence. The offence—and the other new communication offences—will ensure that the criminal law is focused on the most harmful behaviour while protecting free expression. The government also anticipates the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) will update the guidelines on prosecuting cases involving communications sent via social media. We will monitor the implementation of the new communications offences and its impact on the criminal justice system once these offences come into force. Notifiable offences are collected from police forces on a monthly basis and published within the quarterly Crime statistics by ONS found here Crime in England and Wales—Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk).