Police respond to video showing officer response to girl's address in Walsall concerning 'incredibly serious' social media messages
West Midlands Police have responded after a video showed officers attending a teenage girl's address in Walsall.
West Midlands Police have said that reports that they are investigating a Walsall child for 'viewing a social media post' are 'completely incorrect'.
A police probe was launched after complaints were raised by a member of the public that a fake social media account had been created in their name, and then used to send 'indecent messages'.
The force said that the messages being sent were 'of an incredibly serious nature' and 'have caused serious concern' for the victim.
The response comes after a video was circulated on social media showing West Midlands Police attending a girl's address to seize a mobile phone as part of the investigation.
The force said that officers 'made a number of attempts' to speak to a teenage suspect, and that they attended the girl's address on September 13, where they spoke to the girl's mother, explaining that they needed to speak to her daughter and recover her mobile phone as part of the investigation.
They added that the following day, the girl attended the police station for a 'voluntary interview'.
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "We are aware of reports that we are investigating a child for viewing a social media post. This is completely incorrect.
"We are investigating after a complaint from a member of the public that a fake social media account had been created in their name and had been used to send indecent messages.
"The offence being investigated is one of malicious communications - sending indecent or grossly offensive communication to cause distress or anxiety. The messages are of an incredibly serious nature and have caused serious concern for the victim.
"Officers made a number of attempts to speak to a suspect, a teenage girl, at her home address in Walsall earlier this month as part of the investigation.
"On 13 September, we spoke to the girl’s mother at her home and explained we needed to speak to her daughter and recover her mobile phone as part of the investigation.
"The following day, the girl attended a police station for a voluntary interview, and the investigation continues."
The force said that they are aware of a 'brief but heavily edited video' showing part of the September 13 visit, adding that the video is 'misleading' and that they have reviewed a 10-minute body-worn video recording showing the full exchange.
The force added: "We are aware of a brief and heavily edited video clip showing part of the 13 September visit.
"The clip is misleading, and we have reviewed a 10-minute body-worn video recording showing the full exchange."
