National crackdown on net trolls

VILE internet trolls are to be targeted by the first national police unit dedicated to tackling online hate crime.

The Home Office is spending an initial £200,000 on setting up the ‘hub’ in the hope that it will see more web users prosecuted for targeting minorities with abuse on social media.

A small team of officers will assess reports made to police website True Vision and improve investigations by removing the doubt over which local force is responsible when suspect and victim live in different areas. They will also contact tech giants to ensure hate speech is deleted from websites.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said last night: ‘Online hate crime is completely unacceptable. What is illegal offline is illegal online, and those who commit these cowardly crimes should be met with the full force of the law.

‘The national online hate crime hub that we are funding is an important step to ensure more victims have the confidence to come forward and report the vile abuse to which they are being subjected.’

Tthe move comes after The Mail on Sunday revealed last year that Scotland Yard was setting up the first unit of detectives dedicated to investigating online abuse, prompting fears that they could chill free speech by acting as a ‘thought police’ for risque jokes or unpopular views.