Latest news with #ParadykesPrimary
Edinburgh Live
a day ago
- Edinburgh Live
Midlothian primary children 'told to send explicit photos' in WhatsApp group
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Midlothian children were added to a WhatsApp group and 'told to send explicit photographs'. Police are investigating after six children at Paradykes Primary in Loanhead were urged 'not to let parents know' when they were added into a group chat. The pupils targeted were aged between nine and 10-years-old. Midlothian Council said the children were being offered support, with parents alerted of the incident in an email. They confirmed the group had not been accessed using council-issued devices, reports the Daily Record. Parents were sent a warning to check their children's phones and remove them from the group after some children were understood to have been added on their personal devices. An email from the school's head teacher said some of the messages were "highly inappropriate, referring explicitly to body parts" and "requesting nude photos", according to BBC News. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox It said that 84 people were members of the group, warning it "went beyond" children solely from Paradykes. A Midlothian Council spokesperson said: "The head teacher at Paradykes Primary emailed P6 parents today after a parent reported concerns about the online safety of children on a WhatsApp group. "A council investigation confirmed the group was not on council devices. The head teacher has passed the matter to the police, and the council will issue guidance to all parents in Midlothian on how to keep their child safe online. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages "Support is available to any Paradykes Primary School pupil upset by this incident, if required." WhatsApp guidelines state the messaging service should not be used by anyone under 13 after being lowered from 16 last year. Police Scotland is making enquiries into the incident.
STV News
a day ago
- STV News
Primary pupils asked to send 'nude photos' after being added to WhatsApp group
Midlothian primary pupils have been allegedly asked to send 'nude photos' after being added to a WhatsApp group. More than 80 children, aged as young as ten, were reportedly added to the group and encouraged to add as many of their peers as possible. The figure behind the WhatsApp group warned those added, 'not to let parents know.' In an email to parents, seen by STV News, the head teacher of Paradykes Primary described the messages as 'highly inappropriate' with some 'referring explicitly to body parts.' Parents have been urged to check their child's devices immediately. Midlothian Council conducted an investigation and confirmed the group did not affect devices issued by the local authority. Police Scotland has been informed. A Midlothian Council spokesperson said: 'The head teacher at Paradykes Primary emailed parents today after a parent reported concerns about the online safety of children on a WhatsApp group. 'A council investigation confirmed the group was not on council devices. The head teacher has passed the matter to the police, and the council will issue guidance to all parents in Midlothian on how to keep their child safe online. 'Support is available to any Paradykes Primary School pupil upset by this incident, if required.' Police Scotland has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Scots primary kids 'told to send explicit photos' after being targeted in WhatsApp group
Police have launched an investigation after primary six pupils were told "not to let parents know" after being added to the chat. Children at Scots primary school were added to a WhatsApp group and told to send explicit photographs. Police have launched an investigation after primary six pupils at Paradykes Primary in Loanhead, Midlothian, were told "not to let parents know" after being added to the chat. The pupils targeted in the incident are aged nine or 10. Midlothian Council said support was being offered to children involved after alerting parents to the incident in an email. The local authority said the group had not been accessed using council-issued devices given to children at the start of term. Parents were sent a warning to check their children's phones and remove them from the group after some children were understood to have been added on their personal devices. An email from the school's head teacher said some of the messages were "highly inappropriate, referring explicitly to body parts" and "requesting nude photos", according to BBC News. It said that 84 people were members of the group, warning it "went beyond" children solely from Paradykes. A Midlothian Council spokesperson said: 'The head teacher at Paradykes Primary emailed P6 parents today after a parent reported concerns about the online safety of children on a WhatsApp group. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'A council investigation confirmed the group was not on council devices. The head teacher has passed the matter to the police, and the council will issue guidance to all parents in Midlothian on how to keep their child safe online. 'Support is available to any Paradykes Primary School pupil upset by this incident, if required.' WhatsApp guidelines state the messaging service should not be used by anyone under 13 after being lowered from 16 last year. Police Scotland is making enquiries into the incident.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Pupils at Scots primary school added to vile WhatsApp group and ‘told to send explicit photos' as parents warned
The group, which has 84 members, involves primary six pupils SICKENING CHAT Pupils at Scots primary school added to vile WhatsApp group and 'told to send explicit photos' as parents warned DOZENS of schoolkids have been added to a sickening WhatsApp group where they have been urged to send inappropriate photos. The disturbing social media activity targeting pupils at Paradykes Primary in Loanhead, Midlothian, has been reported to police. 1 Pupils at Paradykes Primary School have been added to an inappropriate WhatsApp group Credit: Google Maps The group, which has 84 members, involves primary six pupils at the school. But an email sent to parents from head teacher, seen by The Scottish Sun, warned that it "goes well beyond Paradykes children". She added: "The group have been encouraged to add as many children as possible and not let parents know. "Some of the messages are highly inappropriate, referring explicitly to body parts and requesting nude photos." The group was flagged to authorities by a concerned parent. Paradykes Primary has urged parents to check their child's phone and if they are in the WhatsApp group they should be removed immediately. The chat and its contents can also be reported to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Advisors. A Midlothian Council spokesperson said: 'The head teacher at Paradykes Primary emailed P6 parents today after a parent reported concerns about the online safety of children on a WhatsApp group. 'A council investigation confirmed the group was not on council devices. "The head teacher has passed the matter to the police, and the council will issue guidance to all parents in Midlothian on how to keep their child safe online. Fugitive Nicholas Rossi GUILTY of rape in US after faking own death and fleeing to Scotland 'Support is available to any Paradykes Primary School pupil upset by this incident, if required.' Police Scotland has been contacted for comment.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Primary pupils in Midlothian added to WhatsApp group with 'nude photo requests'
Children at a primary school in Midlothian were added to a WhatsApp group in which they were told to send explicit have launched inquiries into the malicious group, which told pupils "not to let parents know" they had been added to the pupils affected are in primary six at Paradykes Primary in Loanhead. Such pupils are typically aged nine or 10.A spokesperson for Midlothian Council said support was available to children affected by the incident. The local authority said the group had not been accessed using council-issued devices given to children at the start of term on were sent a warning to check their children's phones and remove them from the group by the school on Thursday. An email from the school's head teacher, seen by BBC Scotland News, said some of the messages were "highly inappropriate, referring explicitly to body parts" and "requesting nude photos".It added that 84 people were members of the group, warning it "went beyond" children solely from is understood some of the children were targeted on their personal devices.A council spokesperson said: "The head teacher at Paradykes Primary emailed P6 parents today after a parent reported concerns about the online safety of children on a WhatsApp group."The head teacher has passed the matter to the police, and the council will issue guidance to all parents in Midlothian on how to keep their child safe online."Support is available to any Paradykes Primary School pupil upset by this incident, if required." Guidelines issued by WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook parent company Meta, state the messaging service should not be used by those under the age of the was lowered from 16 last Scotland said inquiries were ongoing, but were at an early stage.A WhatsApp spokesperson added: "We give all users options to control who can add them to groups. "The first time you receive a message from an unknown number and when you are added to a group, we give you more context and the option to exit or block and report."
