It comes after millionaire mum Bonnie Spofforth said she was 'mortified' to be accused of being the first to spread the false rumours.

The woman accused of being first to spread the fake rumours about the Southport killer which sparked nationwide riots has been arrested.

Racist riots spread across the country after misinformation spread on social media claiming the fatal stabbing was carried out by Ali Al-Shakati, believed to be a fictitious name, a Muslim aslyum seeker who was on an MI6 watchlist.

A 55-year-old woman from Chester has now been arrested on suspicion of publishing written material to stir up racial hatred, and false communication. She remains in police custody.

Chief Superintendent Alison Ross said: ‘We have all seen the violent disorder that has taken place across the UK over the past week, much of which has been fuelled by malicious and inaccurate communications online.

  • Echo Dot
    18•5 months ago

    The police cannot be going around releasing information the otherwise wouldn’t do just to stop dipshits online. There’s a reason they don’t release this information right away.

    Let’s say there’s an investigation and somebody is murdered and in the course of the investigation for some reason the police think that you might be the murderer. They arrest you, and you provide DNA and it proves that you are innocent. I am sure you would not want your information released to the public in advance of a conviction.

    This isn’t just a hypothetical either there has been plenty of cases where innocent people have been accused of a crime, and then exonerated, but by that point the damage to their reputation has already been done even though they did literally nothing wrong. The police have to confirm that the person they have in custody is the right person before they release info to the public. Also if the person is a kid there are even more protections in place.

    • @Owljfien@lemm.ee
      5•5 months ago

      Not super relevant, but don’t they apparently have more info on the Jack the Ripper killings that they still won’t release? Makes me think the “right away” is on a geological time scale

    • @Maggoty@lemmy.world
      4•5 months ago

      While I agree about releasing identifying information. A quick release of, “we have a suspect, they are not an immigrant.” right after that first night would go a long way.