Parents urged to be Snapchat aware and report illegal content

Police are reminding parents and carers to be aware of what their children are seeing on messaging app Snapchat and urging them to report any potentially illegal content.

Northamptonshire Police is issuing the advice following reports of the circulation of indecent images within Snapchat groups used by children, including those of primary school age.

Parents and carers are urged to have open and ongoing conversations about their children’s use of social media platforms, and to report any images or content that may be illegal to the police.

Call 101 or report online at www.northants.police.uk/RO. In an emergency, always call 999.

If you find an offensive image or material on your child’s device, don’t print, email or otherwise share it, not even to send it to the police. This counts as distribution which is a crime.

Useful advice and conversation starters around young people and technology are available from the Childrens’ Commissioner’s leaflet Things I Wish My Parents Had Known.

Advice for younger children is also available at www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents

Incidents can be reported to Northamptonshire Police on 101 or www.northants.police.uk

Parents and carers are also encouraged to report issues to their child’s school, which will also be able to offer advice and support.

Links to support and further advice can be found at https://www.northants.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/pn/pornography/