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| Footballer will not face charges over abusive Tom Daley tweet | Footballer will not face charges over abusive Tom Daley tweet |
| (30 days later) | |
| A Welsh Premier League footballer who posted an abusive message about the Olympic diver Tom Daley will not face charges, the director of public prosecutions has said. | A Welsh Premier League footballer who posted an abusive message about the Olympic diver Tom Daley will not face charges, the director of public prosecutions has said. |
| Daniel Thomas's message was "not so grossly offensive that criminal charges need to be brought", Keir Starmer said. He said new guidelines would be issued for prosecutors on social media cases, given the growing number of complaints. | Daniel Thomas's message was "not so grossly offensive that criminal charges need to be brought", Keir Starmer said. He said new guidelines would be issued for prosecutors on social media cases, given the growing number of complaints. |
| Daley, 18, and diving partner Pete Waterfield finished fourth in the 10m synchronised diving final at the Olympics. Thomas, a midfielder with Port Talbot Town, posted a homophobic message on Twitter, which was later distributed more widely, leading to his arrest. | Daley, 18, and diving partner Pete Waterfield finished fourth in the 10m synchronised diving final at the Olympics. Thomas, a midfielder with Port Talbot Town, posted a homophobic message on Twitter, which was later distributed more widely, leading to his arrest. |
| Starmer said: "This was, in essence, a one-off offensive Twitter message, intended for family and friends, which made its way into the public domain. It was not intended to reach Mr Daley or Mr Waterfield, it was not part of a campaign, it was not intended to incite others and Mr Thomas removed it reasonably swiftly and has expressed remorse. | Starmer said: "This was, in essence, a one-off offensive Twitter message, intended for family and friends, which made its way into the public domain. It was not intended to reach Mr Daley or Mr Waterfield, it was not part of a campaign, it was not intended to incite others and Mr Thomas removed it reasonably swiftly and has expressed remorse. |
| "Before reaching a final decision in this case, Mr Daley and Mr Waterfield were consulted by the CPS and both indicated that they did not think this case needed a prosecution." | "Before reaching a final decision in this case, Mr Daley and Mr Waterfield were consulted by the CPS and both indicated that they did not think this case needed a prosecution." |
| Starmer said new guidelines were needed because this was just one of a growing number of such cases, and there were likely to be many more. "The time has come for an informed debate about the boundaries of free speech in an age of social media," he said. | Starmer said new guidelines were needed because this was just one of a growing number of such cases, and there were likely to be many more. "The time has come for an informed debate about the boundaries of free speech in an age of social media," he said. |
| About 340m messages a day are posted on Twitter, and "banter, jokes and offensive comment are commonplace and often spontaneous," he said. "Communications intended for a few may reach millions. | About 340m messages a day are posted on Twitter, and "banter, jokes and offensive comment are commonplace and often spontaneous," he said. "Communications intended for a few may reach millions. |
| "To ensure that CPS decision-making in these difficult cases is clear and consistent, I intend to issue guidelines on social media cases for prosecutors." He said the CPS would first draft interim guidelines that would be the subject of a public consultation. | "To ensure that CPS decision-making in these difficult cases is clear and consistent, I intend to issue guidelines on social media cases for prosecutors." He said the CPS would first draft interim guidelines that would be the subject of a public consultation. |
| Starmer said it was not just a matter for prosecutors. "Social media is a new and emerging phenomenon raising difficult issues of principle, which have to be confronted not only by prosecutors but also by others including the police, the courts and service providers. The fact that offensive remarks may not warrant a full criminal prosecution does not necessarily mean that no action should be taken." | Starmer said it was not just a matter for prosecutors. "Social media is a new and emerging phenomenon raising difficult issues of principle, which have to be confronted not only by prosecutors but also by others including the police, the courts and service providers. The fact that offensive remarks may not warrant a full criminal prosecution does not necessarily mean that no action should be taken." |
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| Director of public prosecutions to issue new guidelines, as Daniel Thomas avoids charges for homophobic message | |
| A Welsh Premier League footballer who posted an abusive message about the Olympic diver Tom Daley will not face charges, the director of public prosecutions has said. | |
| Daniel Thomas's message was "not so grossly offensive that criminal charges need to be brought", Keir Starmer said. He said new guidelines would be issued for prosecutors on social media cases, given the growing number of complaints. | |
| Daley, 18, and diving partner Pete Waterfield finished fourth in the 10m synchronised diving final at the Olympics. Thomas, a midfielder with Port Talbot Town, posted a homophobic message on Twitter, which was later distributed more widely, leading to his arrest. | |
| Starmer said: "This was, in essence, a one-off offensive Twitter message, intended for family and friends, which made its way into the public domain. It was not intended to reach Mr Daley or Mr Waterfield, it was not part of a campaign, it was not intended to incite others and Mr Thomas removed it reasonably swiftly and has expressed remorse. | |
| "Before reaching a final decision in this case, Mr Daley and Mr Waterfield were consulted by the CPS and both indicated that they did not think this case needed a prosecution." | |
| Starmer said new guidelines were needed because this was just one of a growing number of such cases, and there were likely to be many more. "The time has come for an informed debate about the boundaries of free speech in an age of social media," he said. | |
| About 340m messages a day are posted on Twitter, and "banter, jokes and offensive comment are commonplace and often spontaneous," he said. "Communications intended for a few may reach millions. | |
| "To ensure that CPS decision-making in these difficult cases is clear and consistent, I intend to issue guidelines on social media cases for prosecutors." He said the CPS would first draft interim guidelines that would be the subject of a public consultation. | |
| Starmer said it was not just a matter for prosecutors. "Social media is a new and emerging phenomenon raising difficult issues of principle, which have to be confronted not only by prosecutors but also by others including the police, the courts and service providers. The fact that offensive remarks may not warrant a full criminal prosecution does not necessarily mean that no action should be taken." |