UK police say they did not arrest girl over social-media post; investigation centers on fake account

West Midlands Police on Sunday rebutted online claims that a teenage girl was arrested for simply viewing a social media post. The department said the investigation centers on a fake social-media account that allegedly sent indecent messages, and there have been no arrests or charges tied to the case.

Officers visited a home in Walsall on Sept. 13 as part of the inquiry, according to police statements. They spoke with the girl’s mother at the residence and explained that they needed to speak to the daughter and recover her mobile phone as part of the investigation. The following day, the girl attended a voluntary interview at a police station, and the inquiry continues.

The force underscored that the case involves indecent messages sent from a fake account, not a probe into viewing content. It said a heavily edited video circulating online showing part of the Sept. 13 visit was misleading, and that police reviewed a 10-minute body-worn video recording of the full exchange. In the footage, officers are shown attempting to seize a mobile phone as part of the investigation, but the department reiterated that the situation did not involve arrest for simply viewing a post.

Authorities noted that “the messages were of an incredibly serious nature” and caused “serious concern” to the victim, and that the matter is being treated as “sending indecent or grossly offensive communication to cause distress or anxiety.” West Midlands Police said officers made “a number of attempts” to speak with a suspect—the teenage girl—at her home in the area earlier this month, and that the investigation remains ongoing.

The police statement comes after a social-media post and a clipped video went viral, asserting the girl had been arrested for merely looking at a post. Police emphasized that those claims are incorrect, and they urged the public to rely on official releases for information about the case. The public remains informed that no arrests or charges have been announced in connection with the incident, and that the investigation continues as police pursue the underlying allegations related to the fake account.

The Post sought comment from West Midlands Police for additional details. While online narratives can spread rapidly, authorities say the facts show a formal inquiry into the creation of a fake account and the sending of indecent messages, with no action taken against the girl solely for viewing material.