What Now!
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I arrived home this morning to officers at the door needing to speak with my son, they told me why before I woke him and what they said sickened me. Now I just don't know what to do or what will happen.
During the chat it became apparent he had accessed an indecent image that was reported through an app called Snapchat. He seemed so taken aback and denied any knowledge at first then suddenly explained a time he opened a link through another social media outlet that took him to the image and Snapchat. The police asked if he knew when this happened, he gave an aroundabout time and the officer agreed (was some months back) they checked through his device immediately and didn't voice any concerns to me. They took some details of his and my telephone number( I presume they know who I am as the bill payer of our broadband) and gave me a leaflet.
They really didn't explain what would happen next if anything. I'm worried sick!
After speaking with my son when they left he seems so sad and obviously worried himself. I'm trying to reassure him that these things can happen but he is to tell me straight away if ever he comes across anything like that again so we can report it (the police specifically said he should do that) I've asked him to tell me if there is anything else the officers might want to talk to him about as being straight up honest at the earliest time is best. But I really don't want him to feel accused or bad if it was just an error of judgement! I also want to be sure it was an error and not something he needs help with.
Will the officers be back in touch, I didn't get any contact details. I had no questions at the time my head was all over the place.
sorry if this is the wrong place to post I just really don't know where to turn
During the chat it became apparent he had accessed an indecent image that was reported through an app called Snapchat. He seemed so taken aback and denied any knowledge at first then suddenly explained a time he opened a link through another social media outlet that took him to the image and Snapchat. The police asked if he knew when this happened, he gave an aroundabout time and the officer agreed (was some months back) they checked through his device immediately and didn't voice any concerns to me. They took some details of his and my telephone number( I presume they know who I am as the bill payer of our broadband) and gave me a leaflet.
They really didn't explain what would happen next if anything. I'm worried sick!
After speaking with my son when they left he seems so sad and obviously worried himself. I'm trying to reassure him that these things can happen but he is to tell me straight away if ever he comes across anything like that again so we can report it (the police specifically said he should do that) I've asked him to tell me if there is anything else the officers might want to talk to him about as being straight up honest at the earliest time is best. But I really don't want him to feel accused or bad if it was just an error of judgement! I also want to be sure it was an error and not something he needs help with.
Will the officers be back in touch, I didn't get any contact details. I had no questions at the time my head was all over the place.
sorry if this is the wrong place to post I just really don't know where to turn
He's 14. No they didn't take anything. I made them aware he has access to a PC but they were only interested in looking through his phone. They did this at home. This happened Friday it's been an awful weekend.
I just feel so sad for him and I'm sat here at work unable to concentrate worried they will come to see him again while I'm not at home.
I just feel so sad for him and I'm sat here at work unable to concentrate worried they will come to see him again while I'm not at home.
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This does seem slightly different to other cases. Did they take and devices away?
It sounds very odd that they haven't stated what their plans are. They should never leave a house where they suspect iioc has been viewed without taking the device(s) it's allegedly been viewed on. By doing this it gives opportunity to destroy devices and therefore there is no evidence to take to the CPS and then no case. It sounds as if they decided that they weren't going to take it further. I hope you manage to get some closure and you and your family manage to put this behind you, it's a very traumatic experience and I feel deeply sorry for the kids that get dragged into this, there needs to be a better way of dealing with it.
Surrey Police did a campaign a few years ago warning kids about the dangers of iioc and the charges around Lucy Faithfull backed it or were responsible for it, when I saw this I also came across some figures for how many young kids are ending up in this crossfire and the youngest suspect was only 7 years old!
Surrey Police did a campaign a few years ago warning kids about the dangers of iioc and the charges around Lucy Faithfull backed it or were responsible for it, when I saw this I also came across some figures for how many young kids are ending up in this crossfire and the youngest suspect was only 7 years old!
Sorry, just plonking this here, it's from a screenshot from a report I took from the iicsa website a couple of months ago. I thought it might be of interest.
71. Children (under 18) are increasingly being recorded as suspect/offender on lIOC offences. This predominantly relates to taking and sending of indecent images of themselves and others in their peer group, or "sexting" which is reported as becoming a cultural norm for young people. The majority are in the 13 to 15 age category, with the youngest age of child recorded as a suspect being 7 years old. In the last 3 financial years, children make up the largest group of suspects recorded on IlOC offences. In line with national guidance these offences are likely to be subject to no further action (NFA) after assessment of risk and vulnerability however the crime record remains.
72. When breaking the age groups down further, the largest age group of offenders/suspects are the over 18s, with the 13-15 age category the next greatest.
71. Children (under 18) are increasingly being recorded as suspect/offender on lIOC offences. This predominantly relates to taking and sending of indecent images of themselves and others in their peer group, or "sexting" which is reported as becoming a cultural norm for young people. The majority are in the 13 to 15 age category, with the youngest age of child recorded as a suspect being 7 years old. In the last 3 financial years, children make up the largest group of suspects recorded on IlOC offences. In line with national guidance these offences are likely to be subject to no further action (NFA) after assessment of risk and vulnerability however the crime record remains.
72. When breaking the age groups down further, the largest age group of offenders/suspects are the over 18s, with the 13-15 age category the next greatest.
I remember asking the police officer about this, and she said if a 14 year old has an indecent image of 12-13 year old they do treat it differently as it is age appropriate she said, and they speak to them about the repercussions, (that could of been a lie as it is the police) I think it's a very grey area as you could say the same for a 18 year old having images of a 16 year old but they wouldn't say that was age appropriate
They didn't really make anything clear as to what happens now.
They did only advise if ever he comes across anything online in the future, he is to tell me straight away so I can report it to the police as if there was already that report on file on this occasion they wouldn't have been suspecting him of any wrongdoings.
The police were really very good, explained in such an age appropriate way the Law, the damage and backstory to every image and how dangerous some media platforms are. He uses snapchat and a gaming chat platform that I don't understand so very informative for me too. They also gave us an information sheet and spoke to him about stranger danger online with people pretending to be someone else.
They didn't take away his device but did check through his search history and snap chat at least and I'd imagine his photo storage.
I've been honest with him that I don't know what will happen next, I've told him there's every chance his school will be informed but that they should support him. I've advised him to not tell friends as accusations even when not true can be massivly damaging.
They did only advise if ever he comes across anything online in the future, he is to tell me straight away so I can report it to the police as if there was already that report on file on this occasion they wouldn't have been suspecting him of any wrongdoings.
The police were really very good, explained in such an age appropriate way the Law, the damage and backstory to every image and how dangerous some media platforms are. He uses snapchat and a gaming chat platform that I don't understand so very informative for me too. They also gave us an information sheet and spoke to him about stranger danger online with people pretending to be someone else.
They didn't take away his device but did check through his search history and snap chat at least and I'd imagine his photo storage.
I've been honest with him that I don't know what will happen next, I've told him there's every chance his school will be informed but that they should support him. I've advised him to not tell friends as accusations even when not true can be massivly damaging.
I think it's definitely at Police discretion, in the same way some Police will take away every device in the house and some will leave others. They seem to make the rules as they go along! A friend at work's 14 year old sent a nude pic to his gf, she sent it to others and the school contacted her and had to contact the Police too, the Police said they weren't going to press charges but they could if they wanted to. It's ridiculous! It's a concern for the teens who are now getting to 18/19+ who have been taking part in such behaviour over the years too with the likes of Snapchat and iCloud, people forget how much/and what they have buried in their phones. It seems as though common sense and the whole purpose of why the laws are there in the first place are overlooked sometimes and dealt with unfairly.
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I agree with Polly Pocket they have had a report and had a quick look obviously seen there isn't much too report ..I doubt you will hear much again ..I realy wouldn't worry too much .
They did mention social services may be involved, I was in such a tizz already thinking the worst i wonder if i waz registering everything they said. The way it sounded was that the report from snapchat was back late last year. They asked my son if he remembered the around about date and confirmed that was correct. If I was to call 101 would they even be able to give me any information.
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