Latest news with #StopItNow
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Daily Record
Renfrewshire sex predators warned to get help or get caught
Police Scotland is actively searching for adults in Scotland using social media, apps and websites to view illegal sexual images of children, and using technology to contact kids. Police Scotland has warned sexual predators to get help or get caught ahead of Online Safety Act protections for children coming into force today. Officers are actively searching for adults in Renfrewshire using social media, apps and websites to view illegal sexual images of children, and using technology to contact kids. The warning comes as Police Scotland's online child sexual abuse and exploitation unit revealed that, from April 2024 to July 2025, it carried out 863 investigations – resulting in 604 arrests – with steps taken to protect 815 kids. Ahead of new laws now taking effect, which are aimed at keeping children safe online, the service is relaunching its 'Get Help or Get Caught' online child sexual abuse prevention campaign. The Online Safety Act's new measures mean that tech companies must take proactive steps to protect children from illegal content and activity, including: Child sexual abuse; Controlling or coercive behaviour; Extreme pornography and; Intimate image abuse. Detective superintendent Nicola McGovern told the Paisley Daily Express: 'Children are increasingly using games, apps, sites and streaming services and living more of their lives online. 'That means it's never been easier for strangers to connect with children and, on some platforms, it can take just 30 seconds for a predatory adult to contact a child. 'Online child sexual abuse and exploitation through technology is an increasing problem in Scotland and officers from our national child abuse investigation unit work tirelessly to prevent children becoming victims. 'And we will use all means at our disposal to search for and identify offenders. 'Any measures that protect children online should be welcomed and our deterrence campaign work with partners gives us the chance to prevent abuse before it happens, by diverting potential perpetrators from committing offences.' The Get Help or Get Caught campaign is in partnership with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation Scotland's 'Stop It Now' service which offers anonymous advice and support to prevent offending. The child protection charity has worked with Police Scotland since 2018 to deliver a series of campaigns aimed at those who present the greatest risk of harm to children. Stuart Allardyce, director at Lucy Faithfull Foundation Scotland, added: 'The reasons for viewing sexual images of children or engaging in online grooming are complex, and many people recognise that what they are doing is wrong. 'Often, they feel trapped in a cycle of compulsive behaviour. Seeking individualised, anonymous and non-judgmental support is absolutely the right step to take. 'We work with hundreds of people who are worried about their sexual thoughts or behaviour online or who have been arrested for offences involving children. 'We can help you stop and move on from offending or potential criminal behaviour, helping to protect and keep children safe.' The Get Help or Get Caught campaign will be promoted on social media channels for six weeks.
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Police Scotland warns sexual predators to 'get help or get caught'
The laws, part of the Online Safety Act, come into effect on Friday, July 25. They require tech companies to take steps to protect children from illegal content and activities such as child sexual abuse, controlling or coercive behaviour, extreme pornography, and intimate image abuse. This warning from the force follows the announcement by Police Scotland's Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation unit that, from April 2024 to July 2025, it conducted 863 investigations resulting in 604 arrests, with measures taken to protect 815 children. Read more: Celtic outcast poised for surprise move to club in 'big five league' Detective Superintendent Nicola McGovern said: "Children are increasingly using games, apps, sites and streaming services and living more of their lives online. "That means it's never been easier for strangers to connect with children and on some platforms, it can take just 30 seconds for a predatory adult to contact a child. "Online child sexual abuse and exploitation through technology is an increasing problem in Scotland and officers from our National Child Abuse Investigation Unit work tirelessly to prevent children becoming victims and we will use all means at our disposal to search for and identify offenders. "Any measures that protect children online should be welcomed and our deterrence campaign work with partners gives us the chance to prevent abuse before it happens, by diverting potential perpetrators from committing offences." Police Scotland is also re-launching its "Get Help or Get Caught" online child sexual abuse prevention campaign. This initiative, in partnership with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation Scotland's Stop It Now service, offers anonymous advice and support to prevent offending. The child protection charity has partnered with Police Scotland since 2018 to run campaigns targeting those who pose the highest risk of harm to children. Stuart Allardyce, director of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation Scotland, said: "The reasons for viewing sexual images of children or engaging in online grooming are complex, and many people recognise that what they are doing is wrong. "Often, they feel trapped in a cycle of compulsive behaviour. "Seeking individualised, anonymous, and non-judgmental support is absolutely the right step to take. "We work with hundreds of people who are worried about their sexual thoughts or behaviour online or who have been arrested for offences involving children. "We can help you stop and move on from offending or potential criminal behaviour, helping to protect and keep children safe." The Get Help or Get Caught campaign will run on social media channels from Wednesday, July 23, for six weeks.
Edinburgh Reporter
6 days ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Police Scotland's warning to people viewing illegal sexual images of children
The warning comes as Police Scotland's Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation unit reveals that from April 2024 to July 2025, it has carried out 863 investigations, resulting in 604 arrests, with steps taken to protect 815 children. Ahead of new laws coming in to force from Friday, 25 July, aimed at keeping children safe online, the service is re-launching its Get Help or Get Caught online child sexual abuse prevention campaign. The Online Safety Act's new measures mean that tech companies must take proactive steps to protect children from illegal content and activity, including: Child sexual abuse Controlling or coercive behaviour Extreme pornography Intimate image abuse Detective Superintendent Nicola McGovern said: 'Children are increasingly using games, apps, sites and streaming services and living more of their lives online. 'That means it's never been easier for strangers to connect with children and on some platforms, it can take just 30 seconds for a predatory adult to contact a child. 'Online child sexual abuse and exploitation through technology is an increasing problem in Scotland and officers from our National Child Abuse Investigation Unit work tirelessly to prevent children becoming victims and we will use all means at our disposal to search for and identify offenders. 'Any measures that protect children online should be welcomed and our deterrence campaign work with partners gives us the chance to prevent abuse before it happens, by diverting potential perpetrators from committing offences.' The Get Help or Get Caught campaign is in partnership with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation Scotland's Stop It Now service, which offers anonymous advice and support to prevent offending. The child protection charity has worked with Police Scotland since 2018 to deliver a series of campaigns aimed at those who present the greatest risk of harm to children. Stuart Allardyce, Director Lucy Faithfull Foundation Scotland said: 'The reasons for viewing sexual images of children or engaging in online grooming are complex, and many people recognise that what they are doing is wrong. Often, they feel trapped in a cycle of compulsive behaviour. 'Seeking individualised, anonymous, and non-judgmental support is absolutely the right step to take. 'We work with hundreds of people who are worried about their sexual thoughts or behaviour online or who have been arrested for offences involving children. 'We can help you stop and move on from offending or potential criminal behaviour, helping to protect and keep children safe.' The Get Help or Get Caught campaign will be promoted on social media channels from Wednesday, 23 July, for six weeks. Anonymous and confidential support is available on the Lucy Faithfull Foundation Scotland website. Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
03-07-2025
- Daily Record
East Kilbride man had over 800 child sex abuse photos and videos
His lawyer produced character references and said he had engaged voluntarily in the 'Stop It Now' programme for sex offenders. An East Kilbride man has been put on the sex offenders' register for five years after more than 800 child sex abuse photos and videos were found on his laptop. Andrew Dobbin was also placed under social work supervision for two years and must do 160 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to prison. He will be confined to his home each night for four months under an electronic tagging order. Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that Dobbin, 25, was on a camping trip when police officers turned up to search his home. They told his shocked mother they had information that indecent images of children had been accessed from the address. The officers seized a laptop from a rucksack under Dobbin's bed. This was sent for expert analysis and explicit images featuring children thought to be aged between six years and 14 were discovered. Dobbin admitted possessing child abuse material at his home in Salisbury, East Kilbride, between October 2023 and June last year. He appeared in court as a first offender. His lawyer produced character references and said he had engaged voluntarily in the 'Stop It Now' programme for sex offenders.
Evening Standard
18-06-2025
- Evening Standard
Moment ‘paedophile' calls child safety charity as women now one in 10 offenders
'One of the things that we have found is with our Stop It Now helpline with all of our callers who have called saying they are concerned about their sexual thoughts about children, that 10 per cent of that group have been women.
