Twitter abuse button planned

Twitter plans to include a button for reporting abuse within every tweet, the site said yesterday amid a growing furore over online threats to rape and kill a feminist campaigner.

Caroline Criado Perez faced a menacing tirade on the mirco-blogging site after she succeeded in her crusade to have a woman’s picture placed on a new bank note.

Police were yesterday questioning a man in connection with the torrent of abuse as Twitter faced repeated calls to ramp up its security policies.

The 21-year-old was arrested yesterday in Manchester on suspicion of harassment offences following a complaint made on Thursday.

Critics called for Twitter to take faster and stronger action against online thugs in the wake of the abuse.

A campaign in support of Ms Criado Perez — which urged the site to facilitate the swift reporting of threatening behaviour — has already received more than 12,500 signatures.

The vicious online attack has also led to calls for a boycott of the free social media platform on Aug 4.

Twitter yesterday said it had introduced a button for reporting abuse on its latest iPhone app and is looking to expand this function.