Latest news with #GilmertonPrimary
The Herald Scotland
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
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.'
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Yahoo
Girl, eight, victim of sextortion at Edinburgh school
A mother is warning families to check their children's social media after her eight-year-old daughter was a victim of sextortion at her Edinburgh school. Parents at Gilmerton Primary have been contacted by the school informing them a person has been impersonating pupils on Snapchat. The headteacher has written to families urging them to check all pupils' social media accounts and to screen shot, block and report anything suspicious. Police are investigating several reports of indecent images being shared online in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh parent has posted a warning on a community forum urging families to be aware someone has been making fake accounts of her eight-year-old daughter and others, demanding embarrassing videos and pictures, hacking their phones and posting everything online. Head teacher Alet Bouwer wrote: "Dear Gilmerton families, I am writing to inform you that we are aware of an ongoing situation with regards to a person impersonating pupils on social media (specifically Snapchat). "We are working very closely with our colleagues from the Child Protection team within Police Scotland on this matter. "Can I direct you to the page on our website with useful information to keep your children safe online. Please do check all your children's social media accounts. "Screen shot, block and report any suspicious accounts and report this to Police Scotland. We are also more than happy to answer any questions and signpost families to information about online safety." A Police Scotland spokesman said: "An investigation is under way after we received several reports in February 2025 relating to indecent images being shared on an online platform in Edinburgh.' "Inquiries are ongoing and we are working closely with a number of partner agencies." A city of Edinburgh Council spokeswoman said it would be inappropriate to comment while an investigation by Police Scotland is ongoing. A Snapchat spokesman said: "Any sexual exploitation of young people is horrific and illegal, and our hearts go out to the victims in this case. "If we are made aware of such activity, whether through our proactive detection efforts or confidential in-app reporting tools, we remove it, lock the violating account, and report it to authorities. "Snapchat is for people aged 13 and over and we have extra safeguards in place to prevent strangers from being able to easily find or search for teens. "Our Family Centre also lets parents see who their teen is friends with and talking to on Snapchat."
BBC News
26-02-2025
- BBC News
Girl, eight, victim of sextortion at Edinburgh school
A mother is warning families to check their children's social media after her eight-year-old daughter was a victim of sextortion at her Edinburgh at Gilmerton Primary have been contacted by the school informing them a person has been impersonating pupils on headteacher has written to families urging them to check all pupils' social media accounts and to screen shot, block and report anything are investigating several reports of indecent images being shared online in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh parent has posted a warning on a community forum urging families to be aware someone has been making fake accounts of her eight-year-old daughter and others, demanding embarrassing videos and pictures, hacking their phones and posting everything teacher Alet Bouwer wrote: "Dear Gilmerton families, I am writing to inform you that we are aware of an ongoing situation with regards to a person impersonating pupils on social media (specifically Snapchat)."We are working very closely with our colleagues from the Child Protection team within Police Scotland on this matter."Can I direct you to the page on our website with useful information to keep your children safe online. Please do check all your children's social media accounts."Screen shot, block and report any suspicious accounts and report this to Police Scotland. We are also more than happy to answer any questions and signpost families to information about online safety."A Police Scotland spokesman said: "An investigation is under way after we received several reports in February 2025 relating to indecent images being shared on an online platform in Edinburgh.'"Inquiries are ongoing and we are working closely with a number of partner agencies."A city of Edinburgh Council spokeswoman said it would be inappropriate to comment while an investigation by Police Scotland is ongoing. A Snapchat spokesman said: "Any sexual exploitation of young people is horrific and illegal, and our hearts go out to the victims in this case."If we are made aware of such activity, whether through our proactive detection efforts or confidential in-app reporting tools, we remove it, lock the violating account, and report it to authorities."Snapchat is for people aged 13 and over and we have extra safeguards in place to prevent strangers from being able to easily find or search for teens."Our Family Centre also lets parents see who their teen is friends with and talking to on Snapchat."
