Police Twitter fails - the accounts that keep getting into trouble
- Published
A police force has said sorry after it appeared to joke about rape.
Merseyside Police was criticised for its response to a tweet sent to the force's official Twitter account following Everton's 6-2 victory over Sunderland.
One Twitter user wrote: "Hello. I'd like to report an incident of rape that occurred at Goodison Park, Liverpool, on November 1st at 3:00."
In response, Merseyside Police wrote: "Just confirm there was no actual rape for me? Sunderland certainly got caught with their pants down though."
Minutes later the force responded to another Twitter user who tweeted: "I'd like to report an incident that's been going on for ages. Chelsea get raped every week, can you help?"
Merseyside Police responded: "Afraid not, it's not a criminal offence to lose week in, week out."
Merseyside Police apologised on Twitter., external
They said they'd look into how the comments were made., external
And they said an investigation had been launched., external
But they're not the first police account to get things wrong.
National Police Air Support Unit
It normally tweets pictures of the London skyline or enjoys a bit of banter with other police forces but one official police account got in trouble earlier this year for posting an aerial picture of Michael McIntyre.
The image was taken from the sky by a police helicopter and posted by the National Police Air Support Unit's Twitter account - @NPASLondon, external.
It's claimed the comedian's privacy was invaded as he didn't know it was going to be published.
The post showing the comedian was deleted shortly afterwards.
The account usually posts more mundane aerial images of London.
Former Metropolitan Police Service helicopter
Last year @MPSinthesky - which has now been shut down and taken over by the National Police Air Support - got into trouble by arguing back when people asked why helicopters were flying over their homes.
One woman went onto Storify to highlight the replies that she, and other users, were sent after getting in a row with whoever ran the account at the time, external.
It shows another resident who tweeted: "Turn it in, chaps, I've got a presentation to give tomorrow" as a helicopter circled above her area.
The account replied sarcastically: "Sorry to have disturbed you Sarah, I hope the chap with the knife we found hiding wasn't behind your shed."
On another occasion it responded to criticism of helicopters flying over houses at 2am.
"Not sure if searching for a stabbing victim and firearms suspects is unnecessary, but apologies if you were disturbed."
Bad Twitter use is not confined to @NPASLondon.
Hampshire Roads Policing
This call for retweets didn't go down too well with some people...
Solihull Police
Solihull Police used Twitter to try to catch some drug dealers.
The @NPASLondon account did have better moments when people loved its work.
They witnessed a marriage proposal after seeing the words "will you marry me?" spelled out in a London park.
The officers were searching for a stolen car when they saw the couple.
The account tweeted: "We think we have just seen the most romantic guy in north London."
MPSinthesky tweeted for people to get in touch if they knew the couple
The National Police Air Service told Newsbeat that lessons had been learned in connection with the Michael McIntyre tweet and they wouldn't make the same mistake again.
The Ground Operations Director for the National Police Air Service, Superintendent Richard Watson, said that "we are aware of the tweet from NPAS London and are investigating the circumstances leading up to its circulation.
"In the interim, we feel that the tweet is inappropriate and have removed it."
Follow @BBCNewsbeat, external on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat, external on Instagram, Radio1Newsbeat, external on YouTube and you can now follow BBC_Newsbeat on Snapchat