Several British police forces have begun quietly removing their presence from X (formerly Twitter) due to mounting worries about questionable content appearing alongside their public safety messages.
The exodus started after multiple forces noticed their posts being displayed next to inappropriate and extremist material on the platform. Police departments in various UK regions have suspended or deleted their accounts in recent weeks without formal announcements.
A senior police communications officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that forces are increasingly uncomfortable with the platform's content moderation approach. "We cannot risk our critical public safety updates appearing alongside harmful or extreme content," the officer stated.
The move reflects broader concerns about X's content policies since Elon Musk's acquisition of the platform in 2022. Law enforcement agencies traditionally relied on X/Twitter for real-time updates during emergencies and community engagement.
Forces are now exploring alternative social media platforms to maintain public communication channels. Many departments have increased their presence on Facebook, Instagram, and NextDoor to ensure continued community outreach.
The National Police Chiefs' Council has not issued official guidance on platform usage, leaving individual forces to make independent decisions about their social media presence.
This shift marks a notable change in UK policing's digital communication strategy, as X/Twitter was previously considered an essential tool for emergency communications and community engagement.
Local authorities and other emergency services are closely monitoring the situation, with some considering similar moves to protect their institutional reputation and message integrity.