The top 10 UK cities with the most online harassment and cyberbullying police reports, revealed by Independent Advisor Broadband:

	The number of incidences of online harassment and cyberbullying reported
Rank	Police force	2021	2022	2023	Average per year	Population police department covers	Incidences per 100,000 people
1	Greater Manchester Police	21,716	23,977	19,128	21,607	2,800,000	771
2	Cleveland Police	3,474	3,642	2,878	3,331	557,000	598
3	Avon and Somerset Constabulary	4,435	4,212	4,312	4,320	1,650,000	262
4	Cumbria Constabulary	1,409	1,302	1,053	1,255	500,000	251
5	West Mercia Police	3,228	3,378	2,263	2,956	1,190,000	248
6	North Wales Police	1,692	1,810	1,445	1,649	687,800	240
7	Dorset Police	1,135	1,382	1,865	1,461	800,000	183
8	Humberside Police	1,096	834	1,356	1,095	934,000	117
9	Northumbria Police	1,449	1,693	1,934	1,692	1,500,000	113
10	Cambridgeshire Constabulary	953	893	672	839	800,000	105

Greater Manchester Police have reported the highest number of online harassment and cyberbullying incidents in the UK, with 771 reports per 100,000 people. Over a three-year period, Manchester reported a staggering 64,821 incidents - accounting for 46.7% of all reports in the UK. With a population of 2,800,000, Greater Manchester Police recorded 29% more incidents per 100,000 people than the next closest constabulary, Cleveland.

Cleveland Police ranks second, reporting 598 incidences of online harassment and cyberbullying per 100,000 people since 2021. Despite having a population of just 557,000, and the second smallest in this list, the area averaged 3,331 reports annually, equating to approximately 9.1 incidents per day. In the last 3 years, Cleveland has recorded a total of 9,994 reports - with a 20% decrease in reports from 2022 to 2023.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary has the third highest police reports for online harassment and cyberbullying in the UK, at 262 per 100,000 people in the last three years. With an annual average of 4,320 reports, this translates to approximately 11.8 incidents per day in Avon and Somerset. Since 2021, the area has reported a total of 12,959 accounts of online harassment and cyberbullying from a population size of 1,650,000.

Valeen Oseh-Ovarah, ex-Cyber-Crime Investigator and CEO & Cybersecurity Founder at TisOva, provides 6 tips on handling online harassment and cyberbullying:

1. Be kind to yourself:"Avoid blaming yourself for the harassment. It is not your fault. Showing kindness to yourself helps you focus attention on the perpetrator rather than on yourself. A helpful habit is to practice self-compassion and remind yourself that you are not to blame for the harassment."

2. Document everything:"Documenting is crucial for reporting and may serve as evidence if legal action is required. Keep a record of all communication (screenshots of texts, images, videos, chats, etc.). While it may be difficult to do this, documenting all evidence is crucial to show evidence of harm and could become very useful when reporting the incident to law enforcement, social media platforms, or internet providers."

3. Report the behavior:"Reporting cyberbullying and online harassment incidents is very important. Reporting ensures that perpetrators take accountability for their actions and prevents more individuals to fall victim to their acts. Report the incident to the platform where it happened, to the police, or to someone you trust for necessary actions."

4. Seek support:"Getting harassed online can be a scary experience with significant mental health impacts. It's important not to handle this alone but to seek support from family, friends, and communities interested in helping you. Do not hesitate to talk to someone you trust and reach out to support groups or mental health professionals who can offer support and advice."

5. Evaluate the experience and personal cybersecurity posture:"Evaluating the experience can provide insights and lessons to improve your digital safety. Take actions such as blocking perpetrators and ignoring them. Engaging with perpetrators can escalate the situation and give the harasser the attention they seek. Assess your personal cybersecurity posture and identify gaps. This includes checking your privacy settings, updating software, setting up two-factor authentication, using strong passwords, and considering a VPN. It's also good to take a break from the online world and focus on self-care activities and well-being until you’re ready to get back online."

6. Educational resources:"Being informed about online safety can help you navigate the online world more securely. Seek out resources and courses on online safety and cyberbullying prevention to stay informed. There are a number of charities, including Anti-Bullying Alliance and Act Against Bullying that provide support for anyone impacted by bullying of any kind."

Further Insights:

Essex Police has recorded the least amount of online harassment reports and cyberbullying in the UK, with 5 recorded incidents per 100,000 people between 2021 and 2023.
Leicestershire Constabulary reports of online harassment and cyberbullying reports decreased by 45% between 2021 and 2023.
Dorset Police has seen the highest increase in reports of online harassment and cyberbullying between 2021 and 2023, rising by a staggering 64%.