by Sunny Hundal

Police in Kent have arrested a man for posting a picture of him burning a poppy on Facebook.

No really, it’s not a joke.

A tweet alerted us to the story.

AYLESHAM nr Dover: An Aylesham man has been arrested tonight after posting a picture of a burning poppy on Facebook. twitter.com/Kent_999s/stat… — Kent 999s (@Kent_999s) November 11, 2012

The story has been confirmed by This is Kent:

POLICE have tonight arrested an Aylesham man after a picture of a burning poppy was posted online. Kent Police say the man has been held on the evening of Remembrance Sunday on suspicion of malicious telecommunications after the image of the poppy was posted on a social networking site. The suspect is tonight in police custody awaiting interview.

The abuse of the Malicious Communications Act of 1988 is getting absurd.

The notice by Kent Police of the arrest is here.

UPDATE:

Kent Police earlier posted more information

A man is due to be interviewed by police this morning following reports that a picture of a burning poppy had been posted on a social media website. Officers were contacted at around 4pm yesterday, Sunday, 11 November 2012 and alerted to the picture, which was reportedly accompanied by an offensive comment. Following an investigation by Kent Police a 19-year-old, Canterbury man was arrested on suspicion of an offence under the malicious communications act. He is currently in custody.

Kent Police are also ignoring media inquiries. We’ll report more when we get it.