Avon and Somerset Police made 197 arrests last year for online posts judged to be grossly offensive or malicious, according to new figures that reveal how differently forces across the country are tackling digital communications offences.

With a population of just over 1.8 million, the force recorded an arrest rate of 10.9 per 100,000 people.

It places Avon and Somerset in the middle of the national picture, far below the highest rates but some distance from the lowest.

The data, obtained through freedom of information requests, shows big differences between police forces. Cumbria tops the list with 42.5 arrests per 100,000 people, while Staffordshire recorded only 2.1.

Civil liberties groups say the wide variation shows that the laws are being applied inconsistently.

The arrests fall under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 and section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988. Crown Prosecution Service guidance states that these laws cover messages that may be indecent, grossly offensive or menacing.

The CPS says a message is only considered menacing if it creates fear or apprehension for the likely recipient. It also says there is a high threshold for deciding when something is legally grossly offensive and that speech which is rude, shocking or disturbing is normally protected, even in heated political debate.

Nationally, arrests fell from 13,800 in 2023 to about 9,700 last year, although several forces did not supply complete figures. The drop comes as wider crime detection rates fall across the country, raising questions about how police time is directed.

Avon and Somerset Police said officers act where online behaviour crosses the threshold for criminal conduct.

A spokesperson said: "Some online offences have a real impact on victims.

"Messages that are threatening, abusive or deliberately harmful can cause lasting distress and contribute to people feeling unsafe in their own communities. Where a report meets the threshold for a criminal offence, we will investigate and take proportionate action."

The force added: "We assess all reports on a case-by-case basis, whether they happen online or offline. Our focus is on protecting victims and responding to behaviour that crosses the line into criminal conduct."

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Campaigners say the national picture shows the need for more consistent policing of online communications, while others argue that harmful behaviour online should be treated the same as harmful behaviour in person.

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