Police Scotland warns social media users over Contempt of Court

Police Scotland are investigating messages posted on social media which could ‘risk prejudicing court proceedings’.

Police Scotland are investigating messages posted on social media which could ‘risk prejudicing court proceedings’.

The warning follows a number of posts made on websites such as Twitter and Facebook which have speculated on the identity of the 16-year-old who yesterday appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court charged with the rape and murder of Alesha MacPhail, six, from Airdrie.

Under Scots law, the identities of persons aged under 18 who are charged with any crime are protected.

In a statement today, Police Scotland said it was “investigating a number of reports of social media posts which risk prejudicing future court proceedings and could put you in breach of the Contempt of Court Act”.