Katie Price with her son Harvey as they leave Portcullis House in London where they gave evidence to the Commons Petitions Committee (Picture: Nick Ansell/PA Wire)

Online trolling could become a criminal offence, the Government has suggested.

Justice Secretary David Gauke said the Government will consider plans during a television interview today.

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The comments come after Katie Price gave evidence to a Commons committee on the issue after launching a campaign for tougher penalties for social media abuse.

Asked about Ms Price’s campaign, Mr Gauke told ITV’s Peston On Sunday: ‘I think we have to consider that. I mean what we see is some appalling behaviour on social media.’


Ms Price told the Commons Petitions Committee last week that a line should be drawn between ‘banter’ and criminal abuse but the law had failed to keep up with the changing use of technology.

David Gauke slammed ‘appalling’ online behaviour (Picture: David Mirzoeff/PA Wire)

Her 15-year-old son Harvey – who is partially blind, autistic and has Prader-Willi syndrome – was targeted on Twitter last year by an unnamed 19-year-old who received a caution from Sussex Police.



But Ms Price told MPs that police had been powerless to act in other cases.

The TV personality also wants to see the creation of a register of offenders.

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