In March 2013 it was reported that Loughton had been investigated by Sussex Police under the Malicious Communications Act following a complaint lodged by a constituent over Loughton's reply to their email. After several months, Loughton was advised by the Sussex Police that they would not be filing any charges. Loughton subsequently gave his account of the affair in a parliamentary privilege protected House of Commons speech and criticised the police response. Loughton then mailed a Hansard copy of the speech to the constituent, an action he believed was covered by parliamentary privilege.