Police in Brixham have warned parents about online abuse following an incident in which a 15 year old boy was sent inappropriate messages and images.
Police have said the person who sent the messages has also ‘friend requested’ other children in the area. Police are investigating.
The warning comes after police saying on social media yesterday, that they were not aware of any internet grooming after local parents received a text from a school in Brixham warning parents and advising them to check their child’s social media.
“We are aware of a message sent out by Eden Park Primary School today regarding Children’s Social Media accounts. We always recommend that Parents and Guardians supervise their children’s use of the internet although we as a Neighbourhood team are not aware of any increased risk of danger through Social Media at this time, nor have we received any recent reports of internet grooming or like offences to the Police in Brixham,” An update on Brixham Police’s Facebook page, today said:
“Police have been made aware of messages sent out yesterday by some South Devon schools warning parents of possible online grooming in the area.
We have liaised with associated school staff and are aware of an incident where a 15-year-old boy has been ‘friended’ online and inappropriate messages and images has been sent to this boy.
It appears the same person has ‘friend requested’ other children in the area. Police are currently investigating this matter and are supporting the child in question.
This information has been shared across relevant safeguarding agencies including local schools. The message sent out via schools, was of course sent in good faith, with a view to making parents aware and to ask parents to do their utmost to ensure our children are safe online.
Police urge parents, carers and teachers to be aware of how to protect young people against online abuse. Guidance about can be found at this link:
https://goo.gl/SkmKNh
As we regularly do, over the coming weeks the Torbay based Police Neighbourhood Team’s will be attending schools to deliver child internet safety presentations”
Police in Brixham have warned parents about online abuse following an incident in which a 15 year old boy was sent inappropriate messages and images.
Yesterday, 6th September, Brixham Police posted on Facebook to say they were had not received any reports of internet grooming after a Brixham school had been sent out warning parents about social media.
Brixham Police posted to Facebook:
“We are aware of a message sent out by Eden Park Primary School today regarding Children’s Social Media accounts. We always recommend that Parents and Guardians supervise their children’s use of the internet although we as a Neighbourhood team are not aware of any increased risk of danger through Social Media at this time, nor have we received any recent reports of internet grooming or like offences to the Police in Brixham,”
