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MP fears troll laws may not become reality ; Rotheram 'not convinced' issue will be tackled [Liverpool Echo (England)](Liverpool Echo (England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) A LIVERPOOL MP who helped make the UK aware of the dangers of internet trolls fears promises of tougher punishments will never become a reality. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling says people who post abusive comments online will face up to two years in jail under tough new laws. He is proposing to quadruple the current sixmonth maximum sentence for online abuse, saying he is determined to "take a stand against a baying cyber-mob". The move comes just days after threats directed at Chloe Madeley after she stepped in to defend her mother TV presenter Judy Finnigan's controversial comments about footballer and convicted rapist Ched Evans. But Walton MP Steve Rotheram is not convinced action will be taken. He told the ECHO: "Two and a half years ago when I first brought up internet trolling in the House of Commons no-one was interested, and with the Home Office minister, noone was interested. Because the issue is now high profile because of certain things that have happened, the government has looked for a bandwagon to jump on. "I'd welcome it if it's genuinely true and there is a will within government to try and tackle this issue." Email [email protected] " The Justice Secretary has described internet trolls as "cowards who are poisoning our national life", saying: "No-one would permit such venom in person, so there should be no place for it on social media. "That is why we are determined to quadruple the current six- month sentence." Ms Madeley, a fitness instructor, was threatened with rape after intervening in the row over her mother's comments about Evans. Finnigan had inflamed the debate about whether Evans should resume his footballing career by saying his crime was "nonviolent" and did not cause "bodily harm" during a panel discussion on ITV's Loose Women. VIEWS us at liverpoolecho. Mr Grayling said: "A" s the terrible case of Chloe Madeley showed last week, people are being abused online in the most crude and degrading fashion. "This is a law to combat cruelty - and marks our determination to take a stand against a baying cyber-mob. "We must send out a clear message: if you troll you risk being behind bars for two years." (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |