Man arrested over Twitter abuse of MP and campaigner

Police in England have arrested a 25-year-old man on suspicion of harassment after Twitter abuse was aimed at feminist campaigner Caroline Criado Perez and MP Stella Creasy.

Both women have complained about being sent vicious tweets on the site in the past week.

Ms Criado Perez, from north London, found herself at the centre of a public furore after she launched a campaigned to have a woman’s picture printed on a new banknote.

This led to the announcement that Jane Austen would feature on the new £10 note from 2017 but also drew her a litany of depraved messages from social networkers. Ms Creasy was sent similarly vicious tweets when she spoke out in support of the campaigner.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Today, Northumbria Police arrested a 25-year-old man on suspicion of harassment. This arrest will form part of two ongoing MPS investigations relating to allegations made to police by two separate victims, who made reports of malicious communication to police on 25th and 29th July."

Ms Criado Perez, 29, has said Twitter needs to “get a grip” on security. She said the social network was ill-equipped to handle episodes of sustained abuse and needed to work more closely with police to deal with internet trolls. Ms

Ms Criado Perez met Twitter directors last night along with Ms Creasy, who received a similar torrent of abusive messages after she offered support to the freelance journalist.

“This will have been a wake-up call for Twitter,” she said. “It will hopefully have led them to realise that they are not equipped to deal with this kind of thing properly. “They need to get a grip and figure it out.”

Twitter bosses look set to face questions from MPs when the Culture, Media and Sport Committee examines issues surrounding child protection in the Autumn.

PA