Family and Friends Forum

Welcome to the Family and Friends Forum

This is a supportive space for anyone affected by the arrest, caution, or conviction of someone they know for online sexual offending involving children. You may be feeling a mix of emotions—confusion, sadness, anger, or even care for the person involved. You're not alone. Here, you can connect with others in similar situations, ask questions, and share experiences.

Using the Forum 

This is an open forum—anyone can read posts, but you’ll need to register to contribute. Your first post will be moderated to help keep the space safe and supportive. Once approved, you’ll be able to use private messaging. 

Please read our guide on how to use the Forum and Forum Agreement before posting.

For a glossary of abbreviations and terms, please click here.

Confidentiality and Safety

If a post reveals information about offences not known to the police, or suggests someone may be at risk of harm, we may share details with the relevant authorities.

Before You Begin

Some discussions may be sensitive or emotionally challenging. We encourage you to visit our Wellbeing on the Forum page before exploring the threads. If you're feeling overwhelmed, please consider speaking with a mental health professional or someone you trust.

For a list of sources of support and advice, please click here.

If you're in crisis or need immediate help, contact emergency services or a qualified mental health provider in your area.

Need to Talk?

If you're worried about someone’s online sexual behaviour and they haven’t been arrested—or if you’d like to speak to someone about your own situation—you can talk anonymously and in confidence with one of our advisors.

Call 0808 1000 900
Monday–Thursday: 9am–9pm
Friday: 9am–5pm

Or visit https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/helpline to send a secure message or use live chat.

You’ll also find more resources and information on our https://www.stopitnow.org.uk.