Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the current law is sufficient to deal with hate messages against Jews on social media, including Twitter.

Yes. The Government is absolutely clear that abusive and threatening behaviour online – whoever the target - is totally unacceptable. A number of offences may be committed by abusing others on social media. A message sent by means of a public electronic communications network, such as a message on Twitter, which is grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing may be an offence under section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003. Sending indecent, grossly offensive or threatening material to another with the purpose of causing distress or anxiety to a person to whom the material is communicated, including by means of the internet, is an offence under the Malicious Communications Act 1988.

Internet abuse could also amount to an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 if it is carried out as part of a ‘course of conduct’ which amounts to harassment or puts someone in fear of violence.

Changes to the law being taken forward in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill will increase the maximum penalty for offences under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 to 2 years imprisonment, and will mean that the current requirement that prosecutions are brought within 6 months of the offence being committed will no longer apply. The Bill will also extend the time within which prosecutions under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 may be brought, to up to three years from commission of the offence, as long as this is also within 6 months of the prosecutor having knowledge of sufficient evidence to justify proceedings.

These steps will help to ensure that people who commit these awful crimes are prosecuted and properly punished. Where any crime is motivated by or demonstrates hatred based on the race or religion of the victim, the courts will take this into account in passing sentence.