Fewer arrests were made by Dorset Police for malicious communications last year, new figures show.

The number of prosecutions in the county has increased, however, for the latest period in which data is available.

In the UK, two main offences cover online abuse: Section 127 offences, which specifically relate to digital technology, and Section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988 which also covers 'old-fashioned' ways of communicating, such as letters and phone calls, but is often used for online harassment.

A freedom of information request submitted by RADAR show 10 arrests were made by Dorset Police last year under section one of the malicious communications act – down from 16 the year before.

The force did not provide data on Section 127 offences.

A separate freedom of information request made to the Crown Prosecution Service shows prosecutions across both offences combined have surged across England and Wales, with 7,000 charges resulting in court hearings in 2021 – an increase of 27% on the year before.

In Dorset there were 76 prosecutions for online abuse offences in 2021 - a rise from 58 the year before.

The increase in prosecutions is part of a national trend that saw the total number rise to 6,979 in 2021 - an increase of 27% when compared to 2020.

In February, the Government committed to taking on the commission's recommendations in its Online Safety Bill, which is currently being discussed by Parliament.

Tony Neate, CEO at Get Safe Online, which provides advice on using the internet responsibly, said that while the Online Safety Bill may address some of these issues, tech companies also need to improve how they moderate content.

The Online Safety Bill is also set to impose penalties on social media companies that do not clamp down on abuse on their platforms.

A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said the bill would lead to a "major improvement" in people's online safety.

They added: "It will force social media firms to take action on the vile abuse people face on their platforms or face heavy fines."