The vile abuse directed at Bradford City fans on social networking site Twitter is just the latest example to show the seeming lack of control when it comes to irresponsible use of this medium.

It is surely time the ‘keyboard warriors’ who hide behind their computer screens and make offensive and sickening comments they would never dream of saying to anyone’s face are dealt with properly.

To use the Bradford City fire disaster as these trolls have as a way of abusing City supporters is beyond the pale, and anyone found to be posting such messages on social media, which surely would be classed as hatred and incitement, should have their details passed to the police immediately by Twitter and other networks.

This latest incident has come to light on the same day former City star Stan Collymore has launched his own personal battle to get Twitter to do more about the abusive tweets he has found himself receiving, and we would support his call for the social network itself to show more responsibility.

Banter between supporters is one thing, but the messages about City are nothing but venomous and hate-filled poison, and those behind them should be held to account publically through the criminal justice system.

Too many people are using social networks with no sense of responsibility because they think they can. It is time the police and the networks themselves demonstrated that being anonymous with a clever user name does not indemnify people from consequences.

Twitter can be fascinating and compelling. But those who use it to vent bile and fury will continue to do so if they feel they won’t have to answer for their actions.

A clear signal must be sent to them that if they write messages that could be interpreted as criminal, they face a serious risk of prosecution – and being named and shamed through the court process as a result.