Petition to His Majesty the King: Request for a Royal Inquiry into the Crown Prosecution Service, Ministry of Justice, and Government Handling of Social Media Prosecutions

To His Majesty King Charles III,

We, the undersigned, humbly petition Your Majesty to initiate a Royal Inquiry into the current practices and policies of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Ministry of Justice, and the Government’s handling of prosecutions related to social media posts. This petition is supported by concerned citizens who believe that the current approach to social media-related prosecutions is inconsistent and disproportionate when compared to sentencing for other serious crimes such as rape and violent assault.

Background:

Recent prosecutions for social media posts have resulted in severe sentences that appear disproportionate when compared to those handed down for violent crimes. For example, individuals have received lengthy prison sentences for inciting violence or hate speech on social media, while sentences for crimes such as rape and violent assault often appear less severe in comparison.

Concerns:

1. Disproportionate Sentencing: There is a growing concern that the sentencing for social media-related offences is disproportionately harsh compared to sentences for more severe crimes. This disparity undermines public confidence in the justice system.
2. Freedom of Expression: The right to freedom of expression is protected under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Human Rights Act 1998. As George Orwell famously said, “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” While we acknowledge the need to address hate speech and incitement to violence, it is crucial that these laws are applied in a manner that respects the fundamental right to free speech.
3. Inconsistent Application of Law: The inconsistent application of laws related to social media posts raises questions about the fairness and impartiality of the justice system. There is a need for clear guidelines and consistent enforcement to ensure that justice is served equitably.
4. Public Fear: As an elected councillor, I have spoken with over 250 of my constituents in a week who are now scared to hold an opinion, much less voice it, due to the actions of His Majesty’s current government. This climate of fear is detrimental to the democratic principles of our society.

Request:

We respectfully request that Your Majesty initiate a Royal Inquiry to:

1. Examine the Sentencing Disparities: Investigate the disparities in sentencing between social media-related offences and other serious crimes, and recommend measures to ensure proportionality and fairness in sentencing.
2. Review CPS and Ministry of Justice Policies: Assess the policies and practices of the CPS and the Ministry of Justice in prosecuting social media-related offences, and recommend improvements to ensure consistency and fairness.
3. Protect Freedom of Expression: Ensure that the enforcement of laws related to social media posts respects the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in the ECHR and the Human Rights Act 1998.
4. Public Confidence: Restore public confidence in the justice system by addressing the concerns of the citizens and ensuring that justice is administered fairly and impartially.

We trust that Your Majesty will consider this petition with the gravity it deserves and take appropriate action to address the concerns of the citizens.