Four months' porridge for 20-minute Facebook riot page
Bangor unsurprisingly did not burn to the ground
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A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to four months in jail for a brief riot-supporting post on Facebook.
David Glyn Jones, Bangor, posted "Let's start Bangor riots", then removed it 20 minutes later. But the post was seen by a woman who used to work with Jones and she reported it to the police, the Beeb reports.
His solicitor told the court his client did not expect his words to be taken seriously.
Reactions to such posts have varied wildly around the country – some forces have chosen to give posters a stern talking to or told people to write letters of apology, while others have pushed for custodial sentences.
The non-organiser of the world's crappest flashmob got four years for posting an event invitation to "Smash dwn in Northwich Lootin". He is appealing his sentence and there was no rioting in Northwich.
The Met has denied it told officers to keep all offenders in custody, despite a document handed to the Guardian that appeared to confirm this.
The Operation Withern Prisoner Processing Strategy explained to officers: "A strategic decision has been made by the MPS that in all cases an application will be made for remand in custody both at the police station and later at court."
The Met denied this meant that everyone arrested should be held in custody. The force said 623 people had been bailed pending further enquiries, 125 were simply released and 17 were cautioned.
In total the Met arrested 1,881 people and 1,063 have so far been charged in connection with the disturbances.
Facebook, Twitter and RIM have been called to meet the Home Secretary on Thursday to discuss issues around the disturbances and Cameron's apparent desire to get such networks switched off as he or subsequent Prime Ministers may order. ®
COMMENTS
lunacy
I saw a police documentary the other night. A bloke had an argument with his girlfriend. Drove her round a city and deliberately crashed her into a metal barrier (in her car). It was a write off and she had a fractured foot and leg.
He got a 9 month suspended sentence.
Are you seriously saying that this 20 min one line facebook joker kid is more dangerous?
Bad Joke?
It's a person's real intent that I'm interested in, not what they've said on Facebook. It might be fair to argue that he had no intention of actually starting a riot and having made his joke thought better of it and took it down. Which was sensible. So now they're handing out prison sentences for bad jokes?
If his words had consequences (like, an actual riot) I'd understand the sentence. It's way too easy to lose your freedom around here.
Surely they're only following the example..
...set by politicians and bankers? I didn't see any call for them to be made examples? Disproportionate sentences and fines? Or just give it back and get let off? Oh wait.. the rioters were poor weren't they.
And to make sure the masses are kept in their place, lets give the government the power to shut down social networks whenever they like. Could come in handy if we ever need to "liberate" another foreign regime.
In this democracy, who exactly is in charge?
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