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Daily Record
6 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.
STV News
23-07-2025
- STV News
More than 600 suspected sex predators arrested in 15 months
More than 600 suspected sexual predators have been arrested in the last 15 months, according to Police Scotland. The arrests took place across the country between April 2024 and July 2025. It comes after the Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation unit carried out 863 investigations, 'protecting' 815 children from being exploited online. According to estimates by the Childlight global child safety institute, around 150,000 children in Scotland are subjected to at least one form of online sexual abuse. Ahead of the new Online Safety Act, which comes into effect on Friday, July 25, requiring websites to take stronger measures to protect children online, Police Scotland is re-launching its online child sexual abuse prevention campaign. Get Help or Get Caught is in partnership with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and proactively targets those at risk of offending. 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.' 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.' 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
Glasgow Times
23-07-2025
- 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
23-07-2025
- 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
23-07-2025
- Daily Record
Cops warn child sex predators to 'get help or get caught' after snaring over 600 offenders in a year
Ahead of new laws coming in to force from Friday, July 25, aimed at keeping children safe online, the service is re-launching its Get Help or Get Caught online child sexual abuse prevention campaign. Child sex predators in Lanarkshire have been issued a warning to get help or get caught following over 600 arrests in Scotland in the last year. Police are actively searching for adults 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 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, July 25, 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.
