Gardai have issued a warning to teenagers and young people to extra care whilst being online as the rate of sexual crimes being carried out on the web is rapidly increasing in Ireland and throughout Europe.
Gardai say the recent crime trend dubbed ‘Sextortion’ is rapidly rising in the country with children as young as seven being targeted by sick perverts throughout the continent.
The vicious and sick blackmail crime which is being orchestrated by peadophilees all across Europe has seen young Irish people being sexually exploited and shamed online after a number of sick individuals have been caught forcing young girls and boys into removing their clothing and performing sex acts upon themselves whilst being secretly recorded.
The worrying rise in child exploitation has led to the Gardai to call on parents to discuss the dangers of talking to strangers online with their children who are being innocently targeted by the ruthless perverts.
Gardai are also advising young people not to interact with strangers on the web especially with people they think they are their own age who ask them to undertake such acts.
Speaking about the recent rise in sextortion Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll of the Special Crime Operations (SCO) said: “The Garda Síochána is launching a “Say No” campaign which represents its participation in a new campaign against online sexual coercion and extortion of children that is led by Europol.”
“The ‘Say No’ campaign is aimed at providing advice to those persons who are victims or who in the future may become victims of crimes of this nature.”
“Posting or uploading explicit images on social media, or passing such imagery to others online, is extremely dangerous and can have devastating and lifelong consequences for children and their families.”
“Parents and children should be aware of the dangers involved and the Garda Síochána advise that explicit images should never be posted or shared online.”
“Any child who receives a request for naked or explicit photographs should not share any images. We ask them to tell their parents and immediately make contact with the Garda Síochána who will advise them regarding how the matter should be handled.”