Can One Message Get You Arrested? 📱⚖️

📜 Description – CLUE UK | Malicious Communications Explained

💬 When does freedom of speech end — and criminal law begin?
This CLUE UK episode breaks down the offence of Malicious Communications, showing how one message, email, or post can lead to arrest under UK criminal law. In an age of social media, it’s vital to understand what counts as free speech and what crosses the line into a criminal offence.

⚖️ CLUE – Criminal Law for UK Enforcement exists to simplify UK law for police officers, students preparing for the sergeant promotion exam, and the general public. Our mission is to make criminal law, arrest procedures, and court processes clear, visual, and easy to remember.

🧠 What This Video Covers
In this video, we explore the offence of Malicious Communication under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 and the Communications Act 2003 — both essential topics for anyone studying UK criminal law, working in law enforcement, or learning about digital offences.

This episode explains:
• What Malicious Communication means under UK law ⚖️
• The points to prove for prosecution
• The difference between free speech and criminal communication
• The difference between harassment and malicious comms
• Real case law examples including DPP v Collins (2006)
• How freedom of speech, intent, and public communication networks interact under UK law

📚 Why It Matters
Understanding digital offences like malicious communications is crucial for today’s officers and students of UK criminal law.
Whether you’re learning about offences against the person, preparing for the sergeant promotion exam, or revising topics like assault, theft, stop and search, or public order, every officer needs to understand how online words can lead to a criminal charge.

Our videos cover:
• Definition of the Offence 💼
• Section 1: Malicious Communications Act 1988 📚
• Section 127: Communications Act 2003 ⚖️
• Key Difference Between the Two Acts
• Keyword: “Threat, Grossly Offensive, Indecent, False Information, Intent.
• Related Offence: Harassment
• Case Law: DPP v Collins (2006)

📍 Who This Video Is For
👮‍♂️ Young police officers learning key UK offences
📘 Promotion candidates preparing for Sergeant or Inspector exams
🏛️ Students and the public who want to understand UK law in plain English

🔔 Watch Next
🎥 [Public Order Offences – Explained]
🎥 [Harassment vs Malicious Communication]
🎥 [Assault – Understanding Common, ABH & GBH]
🎥 [Stop and Search – Police Powers Explained]