Caution and 2 year SOR
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Hi Ladies
Two year observer here but first time poster.
I just wanted to let you know the outcome of my sons investigation.
So he had the knock on 20th January 2023 (he didn't live with me) I was alerted by his manager messaging me to say he hadn't turned up for work and they were worried. I went to his house and he wasn't there but there were leaflets on his sofa with a copy of a warrant and list of what equipment they had taken plus what they were investigating. Obviously shocked to the core but my concern was for him. He turned up around an hour later just in shock himself. I immediately took him to my home and he's stayed there ever since!!
He's accessed LFF, Safer Lives and private therapy, like a lot of these men this has come from a porn addiction which got out of control turning extreme especially it seems when using cocaine but it was a wake up call so thankfully he doesn't use either now.
Fast forward to yesterday when he had his second interview. I dropped him off at the station and then parked up locally waiting for him to return. He had been told to bring a solicitor so we feared the worse. It was a long 2 hours I waited.
He came back to the car eventually and just said its over. It didn't register at first what he was saying. They'd found images on his phone and computer, but because it was a small number (they said less than 50, which still seems a lot to me but I don't know how many exactly so could've only been a couple but equally could've been 40!) they wanted to offer him a caution with a 2 year SOR which obviously (on the advise of his solicitor ) he jumped at. So no solicitor costs, no court, no press or social media coverage, it was a no brainer. He needs to go back to the police station in a few weeks for them to officially give him the caution and for him to sign the register. Hopefully the restrictions on travel wont be too bad and the DBS shouldn't affect him.
Just a bit of insight; the OIC told him that they have guidelines for having devices checked depending on whether he's considered low, medium or high risk. He was low risk so they are officially given 12 weeks to send off his devices but obviously this then gets pushed back as more high and medium risk devices are sent through. She also said she is attending two addresses EVERY week for this offence.
I really hope other areas offer this solution for a first time offence. I'm sure a lot of men don't realise this can result in a prison sentence. I think education is better now in schools but the majority of our men didn't have that education, especially around images of 16-18 year olds.
I hope this gives some hope to some of you and maybe its something your men can discuss with their solicitors to ask if they know if it is an option at their local station.
Sending you all lots of love and hoping for positive outcomes. The knowledge gained from this forum is invaluable, and let's you know you're not on your own. I will pop in every now and again and if I can offer any advice I will xx
Two year observer here but first time poster.
I just wanted to let you know the outcome of my sons investigation.
So he had the knock on 20th January 2023 (he didn't live with me) I was alerted by his manager messaging me to say he hadn't turned up for work and they were worried. I went to his house and he wasn't there but there were leaflets on his sofa with a copy of a warrant and list of what equipment they had taken plus what they were investigating. Obviously shocked to the core but my concern was for him. He turned up around an hour later just in shock himself. I immediately took him to my home and he's stayed there ever since!!
He's accessed LFF, Safer Lives and private therapy, like a lot of these men this has come from a porn addiction which got out of control turning extreme especially it seems when using cocaine but it was a wake up call so thankfully he doesn't use either now.
Fast forward to yesterday when he had his second interview. I dropped him off at the station and then parked up locally waiting for him to return. He had been told to bring a solicitor so we feared the worse. It was a long 2 hours I waited.
He came back to the car eventually and just said its over. It didn't register at first what he was saying. They'd found images on his phone and computer, but because it was a small number (they said less than 50, which still seems a lot to me but I don't know how many exactly so could've only been a couple but equally could've been 40!) they wanted to offer him a caution with a 2 year SOR which obviously (on the advise of his solicitor ) he jumped at. So no solicitor costs, no court, no press or social media coverage, it was a no brainer. He needs to go back to the police station in a few weeks for them to officially give him the caution and for him to sign the register. Hopefully the restrictions on travel wont be too bad and the DBS shouldn't affect him.
Just a bit of insight; the OIC told him that they have guidelines for having devices checked depending on whether he's considered low, medium or high risk. He was low risk so they are officially given 12 weeks to send off his devices but obviously this then gets pushed back as more high and medium risk devices are sent through. She also said she is attending two addresses EVERY week for this offence.
I really hope other areas offer this solution for a first time offence. I'm sure a lot of men don't realise this can result in a prison sentence. I think education is better now in schools but the majority of our men didn't have that education, especially around images of 16-18 year olds.
I hope this gives some hope to some of you and maybe its something your men can discuss with their solicitors to ask if they know if it is an option at their local station.
Sending you all lots of love and hoping for positive outcomes. The knowledge gained from this forum is invaluable, and let's you know you're not on your own. I will pop in every now and again and if I can offer any advice I will xx
I'm pleased to hear about this and it does raise a few questions, because the way cautions are used seems to vary a lot. My understanding is that the essential requirements for a caution are a small number of images (small is undefined) and that all images must be Cat C. I think it also matters what the ages of the children are. If they are judged to be under 13, then that significantly reduces the possibility of a caution.
This is the most sensible outcome I have ever seen hopefully this can be the new norm my ph was 5 images 12 appearances in court media coverage the lot
Hopefully more police will be adopting this. His solicitor said she'd represented someone else the day before who had been given the same.
It sounds like your son is an adult but I think this outcome is more likely if the person is in the 18-25 age range as well. And, as Edel says, if the images are generally "older" teens.
I hope he is able to put it behind him and move on! What an awfully long wait.
I hope he is able to put it behind him and move on! What an awfully long wait.
That's a good outcome. Everyone seemed to think a caution would be best for my person who is under 25 but it has been sent to cps for a decision. His is 1-a and 5-c and wasn't looking for them, he's also autistic. I'm still hoping it will come back as caution but I fear the worst. Any one in a similar situation have that outcome?
Hi Hat,
I think as Edel suggests, it is often the category A image that makes a caution less likely. But I imagine if your solicitor can make a good case to the CPS with mitigating factors in place it's not impossible.
Is there any sense of the ages of the people in the images? Again, I think older teens sometimes seen as less high risk. There is also how the images ended up on the device. I get the impression that use of things like Kik and Telegram is a bit of a red flag, where as a pop-up on a "mainstream" porn website etc might be viewed as lower risk.
I think as Edel suggests, it is often the category A image that makes a caution less likely. But I imagine if your solicitor can make a good case to the CPS with mitigating factors in place it's not impossible.
Is there any sense of the ages of the people in the images? Again, I think older teens sometimes seen as less high risk. There is also how the images ended up on the device. I get the impression that use of things like Kik and Telegram is a bit of a red flag, where as a pop-up on a "mainstream" porn website etc might be viewed as lower risk.
Hi, what was your son acused of? Was it also kik? And did he delete photos and the app before the police took his devices? Happy that you got a good outcome
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Momof475, I understand it was Kik and no he hadn't deleted them. He is under the impression that there was a mixture of categories but most were C.