Online Child Sexual Abuse
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The sexual abuse of children and young people online is hugely damaging for victims and their families. The consequences for victims can last a lifetime, ruining relationships, health and long-term wellbeing.
The #GetHelpOrGetCaught campaign targets men who are either already offending or at risk of offending and comes at a time when reports of online child abuse continue to increase with nearly 2,000 offences recorded by Police Scotland between 1 April, 2022 and 31 March, 2023.
Tackling online child abuse remains a key priority for Police Scotland, and this includes working with partners to prevent abuse and divert potential perpetrators from committing offences.
Featuring a film produced by the charity Stop It Now!, the campaign highlights the consequences of offending for perpetrators and urges them to stop and seek help by contacting Stop It Now! Scotland or get caught!
Stop It Now! deterrence campaigns have been running for several years and evaluation proves that their support has an impact on reducing offending behaviour.
We know that men aged 18 and above are most likely to sexually abuse children. The behaviour can often escalate from frequent use, over long periods of time, of online legal pornography to barely legal or extreme types of pornography and the viewing of illegal sexual images of children.
Online child sexual abuse is not virtual; its repercussions are real, for the victims of these horrific crimes, but also for perpetrators.
The campaign film will be used to target offenders and those at risk of offending to seek confidential, non-judgemental help from Stop It Now! Scotland.
UPDATES
Three men aged, 26, 25 and 23 will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal for assault and robbery of a 34 year old man in Nursery Terrace, Perth on Monday 4th September.
A 35 year old man will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal for assault with intent to rob of an 86 year old man in Potterhill, Perth on Sunday 10th September.
Two men aged 51 and 43 and a woman aged 40 were arrested for assault and robbery of a 39 year old man in South Street, Perth on Wednesday 20th September.
A 39 year old man was arrested for assaulting a police officer in Dunkeld Road, Perth on Wednesday 20th September. The officer was uninjured.
About 1:15am, Friday 22nd September a 52 year old man was arrested for drink driving on the B846 near Aberfeldy.
A 66 year old woman will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal for careless driving due to being responsible for a 3 vehicle road traffic collision on the A93 near Carsie.
During the last week, 3 drivers were found to be without insurance, 2 had no licence and 1 had no MOT
RECENT INCIDENTS
About 2:50pm, Wednesday 20th September, a set of keys were stolen from a white VW panel van whilst parked in Garth Avenue, Perth. (CR/203718/23)
Between 10pm, Friday 22nd and 12pm, Saturday 23rd September, a white Ford Transit van was stolen from Malvina Place, Perth. (CR/204791/23)
Between 2pm, Saturday 23rd and 8am, Sunday 24th September, a green Trek mountain bike was stolen from Simpson Square, Perth. (CR/204094/23)
Between 8pm, Friday 22nd and 9am, Saturday 23rd September, persons unknown caused damage to the 5th and 8th greens at Aberfeldy Golf Club by driving a motorbike over them. The flag from the 8th hole was also stolen. (CR/204945/23)
About 1am, Tuesday 26th September, a male suspect dressed all in black with a baseball cap and hooded top, stole a white Ford Fiesta ST from Dalwhamie Street, Kinross. (CR/205684/23)
About 7pm, Tuesday 26th September, a silver Mitsubishi L200 and trailer were stolen from Broadwell Farm, Abernethy. A dog that was in the vehicle was later found safe and well. The vehicle was last seen travelling in convoy with a black Ford Focus. (CR/206139/23)
About 2:30am, Sunday 24th September, 4 males were captured on CCTV breaking in to storage shed at Middleburn Cottages, Kirkland, Ballingry. The males were all dressed in casual clothing with hoods, masks/balaclavas with one wearing a dark North Face jacket. A quantity of power tools were stolen. (CR/204786/23)
Between Monday 18th and Monday 25th September, a number of vehicles were broken in to in Pittenzie Road, Corlundy Crescent and Duchlage Court, Crieff. (CR/201569/23)
Anyone with any information that may be useful should contact Tayside Division on 101 or any police officer, quoting the crime reference number listed at each incident. Alternatively information can be passed anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.