POLICE are issuing a warning about the use of social media.

Many people put comments online that they later regret. Officers have recently come across several instances where people have damaged their own life chances.

Tavistock police sergeant Dave Anning said: ‘One of the more common occurrences is when people go for a job interview. Employers check out potential employees on-line as a matter of course these days and frequently find potential employees have photos of themselves online in a drunken state or are involved in abusive or inappropriate exchanges.

‘There is no doubt some people out there are constantly applying for jobs but failing to get interviews for exactly this reason. If you are in this situation, clean up your act as quickly as you can but do be aware that once it’s online, it’s always online and determined enquirers may still find material even after it has been deleted.

‘The best policy is simply to be sensible. For example, don’t go online when you have been drinking as you may say/do things you normally wouldn’t!’

Police only investigate more serious offences and most of the time it is up to the user to manage their own account — block anyone upsetting you or even set up a new account.