Abusers told they’re just a click away from prison
Campaign to target online paedophiles
POLICE are launching a hardhitting campaign against those who sexually abuse children online, warning the culprits they are ‘just one click away from losing everything’.
Almost a quarter of registered sex offenders carry out online sexual abuse of children, according to a snapshot taken by Police Scotland this month.
Officers said anecdotal evidence suggests there has been an increase in such crimes, which include live streaming of abuse, possession and sharing of indecent images of children, grooming for sexual purposes and online or webcam sexual extortion.
The campaign, launched tomorrow, will make it clear to perpetrators that their actions will have life-changing consequences for them and their families.
It also contains a message from children under the hashtag #NotMyFriend and aims to encourage youngsters to be sceptical, as those who groom or manipulate them often pretend to be their friend at the start. Miss MacDonald said: ‘Any form of online child sexual abuse is a serious criminal offence. The internet does not provide anonymity – there is no hiding place.’
Children feature in the campaign images, with the message: ‘Thinking of sexually abusing children like me online? You’re one click away from losing everything.’
The campaign shows perpetrators – or those concerned about their sexual thoughts regarding children – how they can seek help.
Police Scotland is working with Stop It Now!, which manages a confidential helpline to help adults with such concerns. It can be contacted on 0131 556 3535.
Miss MacDonald stressed that online abuse is not a victimless crime and that child victims, from infants to teenagers, are suffering around the world. She said: ‘Every single image shared of child sexual abuse has come from a child somewhere in the world that’s been abused to obtain that image, so it is in no way a victimless crime.
‘I see the sharing of images as being absolutely as serious as the abuse itself.’
One perpetrator who viewed indecent images, speaking anonymously, urged people to seek help before they commit any crime.
He said: ‘A couple of days before my birthday, around eight in the morning, the result of not reaching out for help came to visit me in the clothes of the Police Scotland cyber crime team. My life changed completely in an instant.
‘I wish I had made that change for myself. I wish I had seen not only the harm that these images had done to the very real people in them or the very real harm they were doing to me personally, but also the harm to relationships with family and friends.’
The campaign features social media messages and online advertising posters. Police said support for children was also available through Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command.
Anyone worried about online abuse can contact Police Scotland on 101 or www.ceop.police.uk or 999 in an emergency.