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<p>The Ministry of Justice publishes information on the number of prosecutions for
offences under section 127(1) or (2) of the Communications Act 2003, in England and
Wales, in the Outcomes by Offence tool, available via the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2022"
target="_blank">Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: December 2022 - GOV.UK
(www.gov.uk)</a>.</p><p>Using the Offence filter, select ‘196 Communications Act 2003
S.127 - Sending grossly offensive message/matter by electronic communications network’.</p><p>The
data requested is also provided in the table below.</p><p>Total number of defendants
prosecuted for offences under section 127(1) or (2) of the Communications Act 2003,
England and Wales, 2020 to 2022:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Count</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>1,100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>1,343</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2022</p></td><td><p>1,272</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Source:
Court Proceedings Database</p><p>Notes:</p><p>1) Every effort is made to ensure that
the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note
that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated
by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes
and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.</p><p>2)
The figures given in the table relate to defendants for whom these offences were the
principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found
guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is
imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence
selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.</p><p>3)
The figures given in the table relate to the following offence under section 127(1)
or (2) of the Communications Act 2003: '19607 - Improper use of public electronic
communications network'.</p>
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