The Police Federation has stepped up in calling for greater accountability from social media companies, warning that online platforms are increasingly rewarding dangerous behaviour, criminality and confrontation with police.
Following the tragic collision on the A66, which claimed the lives of seven people including serving officers PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, Acting Deputy National Chair Paul Williams has been leading the Federation's national response, ensuring the concerns of frontline officers are heard at a national level.
Paul highlighted the growing impact of social media content that glorifies dangerous driving, police pursuits and anti-police behaviour. While stressing that the circumstances surrounding the collision must be fully investigated and should not be prejudged, he warned officers have long been raising concerns about an online culture that incentivises risk-taking and rewards criminal behaviour with views, clicks and followers.
We are calling for stronger regulation, tougher enforcement and greater responsibility from technology companies whose algorithms amplify harmful content. Frontline officers should not have to contend with being targeted for online content, subjected to social media abuse or having dangerous and criminal behaviour normalised and celebrated online.
Police Federation Acting Deputy National Chair Paul Williams said: "The tragedy on the A66 has left the policing family devastated, and our thoughts remain with the loved ones, friends and colleagues of PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.
"While it is vital that the circumstances surrounding this collision are fully investigated and that we do not prejudge any findings, it has brought renewed focus to a growing concern we hear from frontline officers every day: the rise of online content that glorifies dangerous behaviour, criminality and confrontation with police.
"Too often, social media platforms reward reckless actions with views, followers and influence. Police officers should not be subjected to abuse, targeted for content or put at greater risk because dangerous behaviour is being turned into entertainment. We need technology companies to take greater responsibility for the content they amplify and for stronger action to prevent harmful material from spreading online."
To drive this forward, Paul has undertaken a series of high-profile national media interviews across television and radio, ensuring the voices and experiences of frontline police officers are central to the public debate.
Through these appearances, the Federation has reinforced its call for urgent action to tackle content that promotes dangerous driving, glorifies criminality and undermines those working to keep communities safe.
Social media companies have the technology and influence to act. They must do more to stop dangerous content being amplified before more lives are put at risk.
Watch back the interviews below via our YouTube channel and on Channel 4:
