Social media companies need to do more to combat violent videos, West Midlands PCC says

Gangs in the region have been posting videos on the likes of YouTube which advocate violence, but despite efforts from the police many of these videos have not been removed, according to West Midlands PCC David Jamieson.

He told a meeting of the Strategic Policing and Crime Board that despite the force's best efforts, videos advocating violence often remain online – and thugs who 'glorify their crimes and torment their victims will not be tolerated'.

Assistant Chief Constable Alex Murray said at the meeting in Birmingham officers have a range of methods to deal with those who engage in social media taunts or post violent videos.

Asst Chf Con Murray said: "Whenever we think an offence has taken place on video which glorifies violence then we will bring those individuals to justice.

"Sometimes we will prosecute and sometimes divert, depending who they are.

"We also refer [the videos] to companies like YouTube – but they aren't always taken down even if they seem to breach the terms and references of the social media companies.

"We try to get videos taken down and make arrests wherever appropriate."

The discussion of the videos followed a question from Walsall businessman Waheed Saleem about how: "Will the Chief Constable set out the how the Force is dealing with use of social media by criminal gangs to glorify their crimes?"

Mr Jamieson had a simple message for those who do that, saying: "Criminals who glorify their crimes and torment their victims will not be tolerated.

"Social media companies need to continue to do more to take down posts that advocate violence."

Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner Ashley Bertie backed the call for social media companies to do more.

He said: "Social media companies need to do a lot more to take down postings which advocate violence...perhaps it's something we need to work with the Government on."