If your child reads Andrew Cope SPY DOG series - be aware of this

[thenewaveragebear1983]

https://www.itv.com/news/central/2025-10-09/childrens-books-pulled-after-weblink-hijacked-by-porn-site

there is a weblink at the back of these books which has been infiltrated/ hacked and is now linked to pornographic material. School libraries are being urged to remove these books. If your child has them, please be aware!

It's not been hacked, the domain expired and someone else bought it.

It's a failure of the company to not keep it registered. The blame should be on them

The website has been closed down - stupid of Cope not to keep it registered, for the sake of probably £20 none of this would have happened: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cder1klxjxjo

ok but I guess parents probably still don’t want their child viewing porn by clicking on the weblink in the back of a children’s book though 🤷‍♀️
our school told us it had been infiltrated but the end result is the same.

Forgive my naivety; won’t the new age restrictions stop accidental visits to the site?

I wouldn't be throwing them out though, what a waste, just cross out or cover the offending website address.

The article seems to suggest that people are viewing it, schools have been urged to remove the books. Our school comms said it if bypassing the age restrictions

Well that’s not great is it

@Readyforslippersi agree, hopefully I can just remove the page the link is on.

Yeah, that was my thought too. Why throw out the entire book?!

In libraries we have been advised to put a sticker over the web address or cover it up with marker pen. Absolutely no need to get rid of the books altogether.
It’s not just the spy dogs books either apparently: all of Andrew Cope’s books are at risk.

I just checked and all ours have it on a back page, it can be ripped out. Maybe some editions have it printed on the back cover

Not all sites are complying with the new laws. They are based overseas and not subject to British law

Why chuck them? Just put a sticker over the bit with the web address?

I imagine school libraries are just panicking a bit, ours has just said they are removing them, they haven’t said they will destroy them.