Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government has taken to assess whether the current powers available to law enforcement are sufficient to tackle illegal anonymous abuse online; and if she will make a statement.

If an offence is committed law enforcement can request data relating to the use of anonymous social media accounts through the communications data powers available to them under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.

The Home Office will be reviewing and publishing a report on the operation of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 which provides the statutory basis for the use of investigatory powers.