Public consultation on the Interim Guidelines on prosecuting cases involving communications sent via Social Media
What is this consultation about?
The purpose of this consultation is to seek a range of views on the Interim Guidelines on prosecuting cases involving communications sent via Social Media.
We welcome your comments by no later than 13 March 2013.
Questions for consultation
We have identified a number of questions which are outlined at the end of the Consultation Paper on which we would particularly invite comment.
If you are replying by email, we should be grateful if you would not attach any other documents to the consultation paper. There are limits on the size of documents that we are able to accept and any completed consultation document which has an attachment runs the risk of not being delivered. If you wish to send an attachment to us, please email us separately at socialmedia.consultation@cps.gsi.gov.uk.
If you use a special software program to read the Consultation Document and you find that you have difficulty in reading it, please get in touch with the Team whose contact details are set out in the How to Respond section.
If you would like to return your replies to the question at the back of the Consultation Document by post, please download the Interim Guidelines in PDF format.
Alternatively, you can read the Interim Guidelines on this site.
How to respond
Both written and electronic responses to the consultation are acceptable, although we would prefer electronic replies on the completed pro-forma.
Please be aware that if you complete and return this document by email, you will be responding over the open internet. If you would prefer, please complete and return the PDF version to the postal address given below.
Please include your name, organisation (if applicable), postal address and email address.
Closing date for responses: 13 March 2013
Responses can be sent by post to:
Interim Guidelines on Social Media Consultation Team
Strategy and Policy Directorate
Crown Prosecution Service
9th Floor
Rose Court
Southwark Bridge
SE1 9HS
or by email to: socialmedia.consultation@cps.gsi.gov.uk
Alternative formats
If you require a copy of this Consultation Paper in any other format, for example, audio or large print, please contact the postal address above.
You can download a PDF version of this page from the CPS website (Adobe PDF document - 119kb).
Next steps
We will consider every individual response received. A summary of the consultation responses will be published on the CPS website in accordance with the Government's guidelines.
Responses: Confidentiality and disclaimer
The information you send us may be passed to colleagues within the CPS, the Government or related agencies.
Furthermore, information provided in response to this consultation, including personal information, may be published or disclosed in accordance with the access to information legislation including the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
If you want the information that you provide to be treated as confidential, please be aware that, under FOIA, there is a statutory Code of Practice with which public authorities must comply and which deals, amongst other things, with obligations of confidence. In view of this it would be helpful if you could briefly explain to us why you regard the information you have provided as confidential. If we receive a request for disclosure of the information we will take full account of your explanation, but we cannot give an assurance that confidentiality can be maintained in all circumstances. An automatic confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system will not be regarded as binding on the CPS.
Please ensure your response is marked clearly if you wish your response and name to be kept confidential. Confidential responses will be included in any statistical summary of numbers of comments received and views expressed. The CPS will process your personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 - in the majority of circumstances this will mean that your personal data will not be disclosed to third parties.
Welsh language documents
The following consultation documents are available in Welsh:
- Download the consultation document on interim guidelines on prosecuting cases involving communications sent via social media consultation document in Welsh (Adobe PDF document - 119kb)
- Dadlwythwch y ddogfen ymgynghori ynglŷn â cyfarwyddiadau interim Erlyn achosion sydd yn gysylltiedig a chyfryngau cymdeithasu (Dogfen PDF Adobe 79kb)
- Download the consultation response document in Welsh (Microsoft Word file, 145kb).
- Dadlwythwch y ddogfen ymateb Gymraeg ynglŷn â'r ymgynghoriad (Dogfen Word Microsoft – 145kb)
Government Consultation Principles
The key Consultation Principles are:
- departments will follow a range of timescales rather than defaulting to a 12-week period, particularly where extensive engagement has occurred before;
- departments will need to give more thought to how they engage with and consult with those who are affected;
- consultation should be 'digital by default', but other forms should be used where these are needed to reach the groups affected by a policy; and
- the principles of the Compact between government and the voluntary and community sector will continue to be respected.
The complete Consultation Principles are available from the Cabinet Office website (opens in new window).
