Huge rise in social media 'crimes'

The number of alleged crimes involving Facebook and Twitter has increased nearly eight-fold in four years, according to police figures.

Greater Manchester Police charged the highest number of people, at 115. Lancashire Police say they received reports of six threats of murder.

Nationally, there were 653 people charged in 2012 out of 4,908 offences reported to 29 forces in England, Scotland and Wales.

Police forces were asked to provide the number of crime reports in which either Facebook or Twitter was a key factor, and nearly two-thirds responded.

Offences included those committed on the websites, such as the posting of abusive messages, but also violent attacks committed for real but provoked by these kinds of online postings.

As well as menacing and threatening messages, there were also numerous sexual offences including grooming, complaints of stalking, allegations of racially aggravated conduct and reports of fraud.

Police chiefs said the figures demonstrate a new challenge.

The statistics were released by the police under the Freedom of Information Act.