Police investigating an alleged malicious communications offence in the West Midlands have described posts on X as ‘misleading’.
West Midlands Police say the clip circulating online is misleading (Image: X)
Police have hit out at a “misleading” a viral video which shows officers attempting to confiscate a child’s mobile phone. The clip, which appears to have been heavily edited, led some users on the social media platform X to claim the police were demanding the device because the child who owned it was merely looking at a social media post.
West Midlands Police (WMP) on Sunday (September 21) said in a statement that the force was aware of the false reports and claims they were investigating a child for viewing a social media post, adding: “This is completely incorrect.”
The force said they were investigating after receiving a complaint from a member of the public who alleged that a fake social media account had been created in their name and used to send indecent messages.
WMP added the offence under investigation is of malicious communications, sending indecent or grossly offensive communication to cause distress or anxiety.
West Midlands Police said the messages were of an incredibly serious nature and have caused serious concern for the victim.
Officers made several attempts to speak to a suspect, a teenage girl, at her home in Walsall earlier this month as part of the investigation, according to police.
WMP said police spoke to the girl’s mum at her home on September 13, explaining they needed to speak to her daughter and recover her mobile phone as part of the investigation. Edited clips from that visit have since spread on social media.
The day after the police visited, the girl arrived at a police station for a voluntary interview, police said. Their investigation continues.
WMP added: “We are aware of a brief and heavily edited video clip showing part of the September 13 visit. The clip is misleading and we have reviewed a 10-minute body worn video recording showing the full exchange.”
In the 1.26-minute clip circulating online, a woman can be heard saying to two police officers outside a property: “So I just need to know, she’s basically viewed a post which is not an arrestable offence”. One of the police officers then starts replying, but the clip appears to cut to a different part of the exchange.
The police officers can also be heard repeating the phone “needs to get seized” or the situation will be “escalated”.
