To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Police Forced To Delete Mugshot After It Was Flooded With Hilarious Comments

Police Forced To Delete Mugshot After It Was Flooded With Hilarious Comments

There were more than 84,000 comments before the post was taken down and it's not hard to see why...

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Police forces around the world have been using social media to help get the word out about missing people, fugitives, arrests and public service announcements.

While it's a great tool to connect with a community, it's worth remembering that people on social media will definitely take the piss if the opportunity is there.

That's sadly what's happened to a Welsh police account after it posted a mugshot of a man they wanted to speak to about drug supply. While the intentions were good, people ran an absolute mile with the picture.

Gwent Police

"He walked out of the complex at precisely 7.30pm, and his hairline at 7.45pm," one person commented.

Another added: "He was last seen in town; Police are combing the area."

A third person wrote: "Push his release date back further than his hairline, that should teach him."

Others joked that his hairline was 'on the run' as well and one person encouraged Gwent police to look up in Edinburgh for the alleged culprit because the annual Fringe Festival was on.

According to the New Zealand Herald, there were more than 84,000 comments and 14,000 shares on the post before Gwent Police deleted it.

The police force also issued a message to people who were taking the banter a little too far.

"We're really grateful to everyone who is assisting us in locating Jermaine Taylor, and we must admit a few of these comments have made us laugh," Gwent Police said.

"However, when the line is crossed from being funny to abusive, we do have to make sure we are responsible and remind people to be careful about what they write on social media.

via GIPHY

"Please remember that harassing, threatening and abusing people on social media can be against the law.

"Our advice is to be as careful on social media as you would in any other form of communication. If you say something about someone which is grossly offensive or is of an indecent, obscene or menacing character, then you could be investigated by the police."

According to the BBC, Taylor had breached his licence conditions after being released from prison late last year.

He was sentenced to three years behind bars for supplying controlled drugs in September 2017.

No doubt Gwent Police and other forces will be mindful the next time they have a mugshot that might go viral on social media. But then again, there's nothing wrong with a laugh or two.

Featured Image Credit: Gwent Police

Topics: Viral, Community