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Original poster

Children sharing indecent images

31 replies

BrickByBrick · 12/10/2018 21:19

Whilst driving home from work I heard a report about the following on the radio

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/county-durham-police-snapchat-offences-15252441

In summary (and from the radio piece) a boy, at the request of another, took a picture of his penis and sent it via snap chat. This then got shared.

The police are now involved and they are facing charges for making an indecent image, sharing and possessing an indecent image. They were reported to be about 13 years old.

I was surprised at the legalities behind the situation and that despite being children they can still be charged with them above and possibly put on the sex offenders register. I knew that it was very wrong but hadn't realised the extent of the legalities.

Is this just me? I am planning on talking to dd (12yrs) and will be talking to ds (10) in a few years, I am more worried about him as he has autism and potentially could be more vulnerable.

I just wondered what others thought, I didn't want to put it on the likes of chat as I would prefer a discussion mainly involving those with pre-teens/teenagers themselves (obviously other input is welcome)

OP posts:
UserName31456789 · 13/10/2018 11:06

I would hope the law distinguishes between a child taking a picture of their own body and an adult doing so. While I think it's vital that sharing images of anyone against their will is dealt with incredibly strongly there's a very obvious distinction between teenagers being interested in their own bodies and the bodies of other teenagers their own age and an adult wanting to see pictures of young teenagers naked.

Original poster
BrickByBrick · 12/10/2018 22:30

All parents of teens/pre teens need to know this too.

Absolutely. And I wonder how many, like me, are/were not aware of the actual weight of the law behind it.

OP posts:
clary · 12/10/2018 22:20

I imagine most secondary schools reinforce this message, certainly the one I worked in had repeated assemblies on the subject, yes even sharing a pic of yourself with your boyfriend (if under age) is against the law.

All parents of teens/pre teens need to know this too. Over the age of 10 is old enough to commit a crime in the eyes of the law in the UK.

Original poster
BrickByBrick · 12/10/2018 21:32

devon that was the bit I think I was most shocked at, that even taking a photo of your own can lead to a charge relating to indecent images.

I do agree that it needs to be dealt with strongly - I was just unaware at how strongly it was dealt with within the law.

OP posts:
DevonCherry · 12/10/2018 21:26

Apparently even photographing / sharing a photo of your own 12 year old penis makes you guilty of making / sharing indecent images of children!

Thelaststand · 12/10/2018 21:22

I 100% agree with this. The full weight of the law needs to be applied.

I’ve seen a boy of 10 years old showing his friends a porn video his uncle sent him.

The use of smart phones in the hands of children is very dangerous

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