Police Scotland launch online child sexual abuse campaign
Scotland’s national Police force has taken to social media to warn those who would use the internet to sexually abuse children that they are “one click away from losing everything”.
According to the force, almost one-quarter of all registered sex offenders have committed child sexual abuse online.
The #NotMyFriend campaign will target perpetrators in online spaces with a warning that the consequences for abusing children will be severe, but also offering the opportunity for potential offenders to change the behaviour that could lead to criminal activity.
Working with Stop it Now!, a child sexual abuse prevention campaign and Helpline, Police Scotland hope to encourage adults who have concerns about their own sexual thoughts towards children and young people to seek support.
Image: Police Scotland
In an effort to demonstrate the long term consequences of online abuse, the campaign uses personal experiences of both victims and perpetrators.
In ‘Keith’s story’ an abuser explains how his life changed as a result of his criminal actions, with a deeply negative impact on family, friends, and career.
Speaking about Police Scotland’s efforts to tackle child sexual abuse online, Assistant Chief Constable Gillian MacDonald said:
“The Internet does not provide anonymity - there is no hiding place. We will use the latest technologies and techniques to investigate and combat threats from predatory sex offenders, to identify who and where they are and to arrest them.”
To learn more about this campaign search for #NotMyFriend and @policescotland on twitter.
Anyone worried about online abuse can contact Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.