Family seeks Jay's Law to ban 'tragedy trolling'

The mother of Jay Slater - whose disappearance in Tenerife sparked a massive manhunt - is behind a campaign to tackle online trolls that has been raised in the House of Commons.

The disappearance of 19-year-old Jay, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, led to a host of conspiracy theories about his death after he vanished during a 14-hour walk home the morning after a night out on the Spanish island in June 2024.

His mum, Debbie Duncan, is campaigning with her local MP, Sarah Smith, for Jay's Law to tackle online trolls after the family suffered online abuse.

The MP told the Commons: "There is evidence of the same content creators targeting multiple victims through tragedy trolling."

Ms Smith said the family had "been subjected to the most horrendous harassment and misinformation online whilst grieving their son".

She added their experience did "not appear to be an isolated case".

Ms Smith asked for a meeting with victims "to explore how we can tackle this horrific abuse and give families the space they should have to grieve in peace".

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Liz Kendall would meet bereaved families in the new year, according to Under-Secretary of State Kanishka Narayan.

He added he would "be very keen on continuing our engagement to make sure that we are supporting victims and working hard to ensure that no other bereaved families face what Debbie and Jay's family have had to".

A huge search was launched after Jay was reported missing on 18 June last year and his body was found by a mountain rescue team almost a month later in the steep and inaccessible Juan Lopez ravine.

An inquest concluded his death, from head injuries, was an accident after he lost his footing and fell in a ravine but the conspiracy theories continued online.

Ms Duncan said the family hoped a Channel 4 documentary about her son, The Disappearance of Jay Slater, "would help a lot of people understand the truth and the facts".

However, the conspiracy theories "just carried on and carried on", Ms Duncan said previously, adding the family had "been to hell and back".

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.