POLICE ARE blaming social media for a worrying rise in pupils as young as 12 years old taking and sending naked selfies of themselves.
PC Lee Cullen told the Saddleworth and Lees District Partnership
that local police are working closely with Saddleworth School to educate and warn students about the issue, known as ‘sexting’.
He said: “Our young people are increasing taking selfies of themselves naked and sending them out via text or social media. We’re talking about 12 and 13 year olds.
“We’ve been to chat to parents and some of the children at their homes about the issues as it’s causing no end of trouble.
“The children need to understand the dangers. This is not the way to interact with each other and it is a serious matter and actually a crime.”
The law states that it is a crime to possess, take, make, distribute or show anyone an indecent image of a child or young person under 18 years of age.
This includes a child taking images of themselves or another child. That child has committed an offence by making and possessing that image.
If that child then sends the image to another person then the child has committed a further offence of distributing the image and the person who receives the image will also be liable for an offence of possessing the image.
PC Cullen has written a powerpoint presentation about ‘Social Media and You’ which explains the law and dangers, and he has been delivering it to pupils at Saddleworth School.
He added: “We’ve been targeting Year 8 students but it is problem across the year groups with children increasingly using their mobile phones.
“Often parents do not have access to their children’s phones to check what they are doing, so they are blissfully unaware – but that has to change.
“If we come into contact with young people possessing these images and they have been warned already by us, then we will do what we have to do to enforce the law.”
Sergeant Neil Barker added: “This is not unique to Saddleworth School but it has been raised as an issue so we’re trying to address that.
“Hopefully this presentation that PC Cullen has put together will have a great impact and can then be used throughout the borough.”
Children worried about online safety or any other problem can call the free, 24-hour helpline on 0800 1111 or get help online at www.childline.org.uk
Anyone looking for advice about sexting or keeping children safe online, or concerned about the safety and welfare of a child, can contact the NSPCC’s 24-hour helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk
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