Liskeard PCSO Educates Students on the Dangers of Indecent Images

Liskeard School & Community College students recently received vital education on the risks and legal consequences of sending indecent images.

Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Bex Steed led these informative sessions, aimed at helping young people understand the importance of online safety and the dangers of sharing intimate photos.

Real-Life Scenarios Highlight Risks

PCSO Bex Steed’s sessions, targeting students aged 11-15, included a compelling role-play scenario to drive home the serious nature of the issue. Bex, acting as a new student, illustrated how quickly online conversations with strangers could lead to requests for indecent images. This scenario helped students understand the pressures and potential dangers they might face in similar situations.

During the role-play, selected students participated by pretending to be the recipient of an indecent image and others acting as friends receiving the forwarded image. This activity demonstrated how easily and quickly such images could spread, becoming uncontrollable once sent.

Legal Consequences Explained

Beyond the practical demonstration, Bex provided detailed information on the legal implications of creating, sending, receiving, and possessing indecent images. She highlighted key points from the Protection of Children Act 1978 and the Criminal Justice Act 1988, explaining that these laws apply to anyone under 18 involved in these activities, with serious potential penalties, including imprisonment.

Empowering Students In Cornwall to Say No

The sessions aimed to empower students with the confidence to refuse requests for indecent images. Bex’s message, “say no, don’t show,” was a central theme throughout the sessions. She encouraged students to recognise signs of peer pressure and coercion and provided strategies to resist these pressures.

At the conclusion of each session, Bex directed students to additional support resources, including the NSPCC and the school’s safeguarding team. She emphasised the importance of seeking help and reporting any incidents of pressure or exploitation to the police or trusted adults.

Increased Awareness and Reporting

Following the sessions, the local policing team reported an increase in the number of students coming forward about issues related to indecent images. Bex acknowledged that while this increase is concerning, it also highlights the crucial need for ongoing education and support for young people in recognising and reporting such dangers.

How to Get Help

If you or someone you know has experienced pressure to send indecent images or has been a victim of such exploitation, it is important to report this to the police via their website or by calling 101. Reports can also be made anonymously to the Internet Watch Foundation. Additionally, support is available from school nurses, teachers, or trusted adults. For further information, visit the NSPCC website or the UK Government’s page on the law surrounding indecent images of children.

For those affected by these issues, Victim Support can provide assistance. Visit www.victimcare-dc.org, call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111, or contact Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.

By continuing to educate young people on these crucial matters, PCSO Bex Steed and the local policing team aim to protect and empower the next generation to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.