Not Your Officer.

STATEMENT OF MATTHEW TAYLOR
RE: Allegation of Impersonating a Police Officer (Police Act 1996, Section 90)
Date: 14 July 2025

Background
On or about 2 June 2025, I published a community post on my YouTube channel in response to repeated online harassment from an individual known as Danny West. In response, Mr. West has lodged a complaint to Sussex Police alleging that I am guilty of impersonating a police officer under Section 90 of the Police Act 1996.
Read more - https://guerrillademocracy.blogspot.com/2025/01/danny-west-takes-matt-taylor-to-court.html
The post in question consisted of an AI-generated fictional “incident report”, which included the heading “SUSSEX POLICE Incident Report – Harassment and Online Abuse”, with a made-up reference number and a fictional reporting officer named “PC J. Smith”. The post summarised the abusive comment I received and included a basic ‘analysis’ and ‘recommended actions’—none of which were official or carried any authority.
My Position
I strongly deny that I have committed any offence under Section 90 of the Police Act 1996 for the following reasons:
No False Representation as a Police Officer

At no point did I state or imply that I am a police officer or that I hold any police powers.

The post makes it clear that the “incident report” is from an imaginary third party: a fictional PC J. Smith. I did not present myself as “PC J. Smith”; it was plainly part of an illustrative or satirical response to highlight harassment.

No Intent to Deceive

There was no intent on my part to mislead any member of the public or any authority into believing I am a serving police officer.

The context of the post—a YouTube community page—makes it clear it is commentary or parody, not an official police communication.

I did not use the post to exercise police powers, gain access to private information, demand compliance, or secure any advantage.

No Use or Possession of Police Uniform or Insignia

I did not wear or display any police uniform, badge, warrant card, or similar equipment. The post was purely text-based and online.
I do not possess any police uniform or equipment.
No Harmful Consequences
No one was deceived or misled into believing that the post was an authentic police document.
The only “complaint” appears to come from the same individual who openly admitted to trolling and harassing me, now attempting to weaponise this fictional post against me.
Legal Context
Under Section 90 of the Police Act 1996, the offense of impersonating a police officer requires clear proof that a person:
Falsely represented themselves as a police officer, and
Did so with intent to deceive.
Neither element applies in my case. There was no representation that I was an officer, and no evidence of intent to deceive. The post was a fictionalised statement created using AI (ChatGPT) to illustrate the pattern of harassment I have suffered online.
Declaration
I make this statement to confirm that I am not guilty of impersonating a police officer and that the complaint against me is without foundation. I respectfully request that my legal representative and Sussex Police take this statement into account when assessing the merit of this complaint.
I am happy to cooperate fully with any further enquiries and provide all evidence of the context, creation, and publication of the post in question.

Signed: MDTaylor
Name: Matthew Taylor
Date: 14 July 2025