There is strong debate on social networking sites on whether Kent Police were right to arrest a 19-year-old man from Kent over posting a photo of a poppy burning on Facebook. He is currently being questioned by officers on suspicion of an offence under the malicious communications act.
Poppies have been a symbol for Remembrance for nearly a century Credit: Andrew Matthews/PA
The director of civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch has criticised the arrest of a Kent man for posting a photo of a burning poppy on Facebook as "utterly ridiculous". A 19-year-old man from Canterbury is due to be interviewed by Kent Police this morning.
Officers were contacted at around 4pm yesterday and alerted to the picture, which was reportedly accompanied by an offensive comment. The man was arrested on suspicion of an offence under the malicious communications act.
But Nick Pickles said: "Kent Police need to urgently release this man and drop an utterly ridiculous investigation into something that has harmed no-one. It is not illegal to offend people and, however idiotic or insensitive the picture may have been, it is certainly not worthy of arrest."
People have taken to social networking sites to give their reaction to man from Kent being arrested for posting a picture of a burning poppy. Here is a sample of some views.
Poppies have been a symbol for Remembrance for nearly a century Credit: Leon Neal/PA Wire
A Kent man has been arrested after allegedly putting a picture of a burning poppy on Facebook. Kent Police said the man, from Aylesham, was arrested on suspicion of malicious telecommunications and was last night in police custody awaiting interview by officers.
The arrest came after thousands of people wore poppies yesterday at services across the country to mark Remembrance Sunday.
