The number of charges made under the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015 has soared in just two years, according to figures released this week by the Ministry of Justice.

In the 2015-16 year, there were a mere 18 people charged; rising to 85 for the following 12-month period and hitting 107 for the 2017-18 year.

For the current year, 72 people were convicted, nine were ‘other proved’ and 26 cases were not proved.

The statistics also show that the number of charges that were discharged without conviction has fallen by half since 2008-09. In that year there 5,956 discharges and every year since it has fallen or flatlined. By the current year, there were 2,905 charges discharged.