Police quiz children over web use

12 April 2012

More than 180 youngsters have been interviewed by police about their use of social networking websites in a large-scale operation.

Central Scotland Police officers visited the homes of 182 children after concerns that the content on some of the sites, including Bebo, raised "child safety issues".

The force said these included young people being involved in alcohol abuse, potentially exposing themselves to violence, the possession of weapons, racism and sectarianism.

Other intelligence was also gathered related to criminal offences, including drug-dealing activities.

As a result of the operation, several youngsters have been reported to the procurator fiscal and the children's panel for serious assault, theft and breaking bail.

Central Scotland Police said a further 72 reports were submitted relating to vulnerable adults and children under 16.

Youngsters aged between 12 and 18 in the Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire areas were spoken to by police, who identified them from pictures posted on the internet.

Assistant Chief Constable Derek Penman said: "This operation has been carried out as a result of intelligence received that such sites, in particular Bebo, were acting as a conduit for a range of behaviour which was extremely concerning from a number of angles.

"When we started looking, what became clear was that young people aged from very early teens through to late teens and young adulthood were involved in open displays of aggression and other unacceptable behaviour, apparently fuelled by drink in many cases."

School staff, social work officers and health officials were among those who helped police with the operation. The youngsters were interviewed by officers about their online activity in the presence of their parents of guardians.

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