Lib Dem MSP calls for online sextortion record keeping
Sextortion is an offence in which criminals threaten to share sexual pictures, videos, or information unless you pay them.
In February this year, John Swinney described sextortion as "an evil in our society" after an Edinburgh school warned of a predator targeting an eight-year-old girl online.
Parents of pupils at Gilmerton Primary were told someone impersonating a pupil on social media platform Snapchat had attempted to blackmail the child.
Despite the Scottish Government launching a joint campaign with Police Scotland in November, current statistics do not specifically identify online cases of sextortion.
Mr Greene who defected from the Tories to the Lib Dems earlier this year told The Herald he was 'shocked' to discover there is no record keeping of online cases.
The MSP made the point that if online cases were recorded, it would allow decision makers to take the right steps to support victims.
READ MORE:
Swinney warns of sextortion 'evil' after 8-year-old targeted
Calling for change, the Lib Dem MSP said: 'I want to urge Police Scotland and the Scottish Government to record data on online sextortion cases so that we can begin to understand how frequently these cases are taking place and put in the place the right measures to help victims
He added: "I was shocked to discover that no data exists for exactly how many sextortion cases have taken place online in Scotland.
"More and more of our lives are taking place on the internet and with that new types of offences are coming to the fore. It's important that our justice system keeps up with this changing world.
"Whether online offenders are motivated by financial gain, sexual exploitation or malicious control, we need to ensure that support is there for victims and that resources are directed effectively to tackle these horrendous crimes.'
In response to a written question from Mr Greene, justice secretary Angela Constance said that while other data on the crime is recorded, there is no specific data on online cases.
The justice secretary wrote: "Whilst statistics are available on the number of people prosecuted and convicted for both Threats and Extortion and Threatening to disclose an intimate image, these do not specifically identify cases that happened online and may include non-sextortion type incidents."
The Scottish Government and Police Scotland are currently running a campaign which has recently been expanded to protect young people from online blackmail.
The Fearless campaign targets young people of all genders aged 13 – 21 living in Scotland and aims to raise awareness and reduce the harm sextortion causes.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Sextortion is an appalling crime and a relatively new one and it's important to note whilst its mainly young people at risk, it can happen to anyone.
'Where a reported sextortion-related crime involves the perpetrator making demands for money or other valuables, it will be recorded and investigated under Threats and Extortion. Where it involves a motive other than financial gain, Police Scotland record it under Threatening to disclose an intimate image.
'We are working hard to raise awareness of sextortion amongst our young people which is why we recently funded the Fearless sextortion campaign which is encouraging young people to report such instances. In addition, we have worked with partners, including Police Scotland and support services, to ensure they can respond quickly and consistently to calls about reports of sextortion.'
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