Methods and apparatus are disclosed for processing data items received at a network element in a communications network. In particular, methods and apparatus are disclosed for processing data items such as packets received at a network element such as a router or other such packet-forwarding network element (20) from a source (1, 1′) and which are intended to be forwarded towards an intended receiver (2, 2′) in a communications network such as a network operating according to the Internet Protocol.