Journalist Faced Year-Long Police Investigation Over Social Media Posts, Including Beach Selfie

A journalist was subjected to a 13-month police investigation for alleged harassment over four social media posts, including a selfie with her daughter on a beach, only to discover the inquiry had been closed shortly after her interview under caution. The Devon and Cornwall Police force also failed to notify her of the outcome for over a year.

The journalist, who writes for the Daily Mail, described being questioned by officers in September 2025 after posting updates about a former police officer charged with stalking and harassment. One post quoted a local news article about the officer's arrest, another mentioned his bail extension, and the final post was a selfie taken with her daughter on a Newquay beach.

This selfie, which did not tag or mention the complainant, was cited as evidence that allegedly made the former officer feel "fearful and distressed," prompting a criminal investigation. The journalist stated she took the investigation seriously, instructing a criminal defence firm and attending a voluntary interview under caution in Plymouth.

During the interview, officers questioned her about sharing press articles and taking a photograph on a public beach. Although she provided a written statement, the police provided no update on the investigation for 13 months. During this period, she lived with the uncertainty of a potential prosecution, which she feared could have devastating career consequences as a single mother.

To prepare for potential legal costs, she drastically cut personal spending, including medical prescriptions and non-essential purchases, and switched to cheaper grocery shopping. She also worked longer hours to build a financial safety net. Her daughter's clothes were increasingly bought second-hand, and an annual summer trip was canceled. She even delayed fixing a broken hot water system due to financial concerns related to the ongoing investigation.

The outcome of the investigation was accidentally discovered when the journalist received a partial response to a Subject Access Request she had filed 18 months prior. Buried within the disclosure was a note indicating the police had decided to take no further action less than a fortnight after her interview, but no one had informed her.

According to the police record, the decision was made to "seek to update Suspect of this outcome," a process the journalist described as inefficient and infuriating given the lack of actual communication.

She noted that her experience was not isolated, citing a recent report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, which escalated Devon and Cornwall Police to Level Three of its Policing Performance System due to unallocated cases and ineffective investigations. Some serious cases, including those involving sexual offenses and child safety concerns, had remained unallocated for nearly two months.

The journalist expressed anger that the investigation was opened in the first place and highlighted the prolonged distress caused by the police's failure to communicate the closure of the case. She stated that while she fulfilled her obligations, the police failed to meet theirs, leading to prolonged anxiety for her and her child.

Devon and Cornwall Police have been contacted for comment. The image shows Rebecca Tidy, who spent a year saving money and foregoing heating to cover potential legal bills. Another image shows the selfie taken with her daughter on a beach that prompted the investigation.