Advisory: Distribution Of Child Abuse Images
The police issued a warning today [Nov 14], saying there has been an increase in sexually explicit/child abuse images being passed around via electronic means.
Inspector Mark Clarke, Officer in Charge of the Vulnerable Persons Unit said: “In 2012 there has been an increase in sexually explicit images being passed around the island via various electronic means.
“Many people are passing these images onto family and friends in their electronic network. Knowingly and unknowingly in the distribution and transmitting you may be committing offences under our law.
“Many are now aware of the child abusive images that have been sent to your electronic devices over the weekend portraying a very young child being sexually abused.
“The law is clear: Criminal Code Amendment Act 2007 states that any person who
- knowingly distributes transmits,
- makes available
- imports
- exports child abusive material or
- child pornography is guilty of an offence.
“The Criminal Code Amendment Act 2007 also states that any person who
- possesses child abusive material or
- sexual exploitive images for the purpose of making it available to,
- showing it to,
- or for viewing by other persons is guilty of an offence.
“Whilst we accept the intent of those who forwarded this image, it is our advice that they refrain from forwarding such images to anyone. By forwarding these images, no matter your intentions, you are in fact participating in the further exploitation of a child.
“These child abusive images are documented evidence of a crime in progress – pointedly a child being sexually abused. All such images should be immediately presented to the police.
“The children contained in these photos circulating have been sexually abused and deserve to be protected from further victimization. Many of these photos are from overseas jurisdictions and we are liaising with the relevant authorities accordingly.
“In the abundance of clarity … Even if one does not forward the image on to anyone and that image is found in your possession [meaning on your phone, computer, etc.] you are still technically in possession of child abusive material and could be liable to prosecution.”
i hope people who are spreading this material are prosecuted and shamed publically. im tired of seeing warnings that are not heeded.
Crack down on this heavily… and NOW… please!
Well that’s BS because I didn’t ask to recieve that BROADCAST and exactly the reason I didn’t call the police after getting it, well done BPS way to get info from the public with your ridiculous laws. Do you wonder why people don’t talk to the police?
BPS does not make the laws!!! Their job is to only enforce them.
So if someone drops a piece of profane material in my post box, I get prosecuted!! Give me a freak’n break!!!
If you knowingly keep it or pass it on to others or don’t turn it in – then yes.
@ come correct: If you didn’t ask to receive that broadcast, but you got it, keeping it on your device or forwarding it is an offence. If you are against child abuse, then what would be the problem with reporting the receipt of such material to the police? I don’t understand.
I think the point is that if one received it (whether asked for or not) the next step would be to contact the police not promulgate the image (with whatever intention) as some individuals were doing. Someone even copied it to Facebook. I did not look at the image but I did report it.
Well I didn’t send it on because like they said its further exploitation of the child, to put it on facebook is just wrong and that person needs an open hand no matter the intention. I’d like to see the sick f@ck rot in jail just as much as anyone else but I’m not going to risk being charged for his crime. Funny thing is I received it from an ex-police reserve, one would think they would have more sense, but I guess that’s the reason for the “ex”.
Child Pornography…..So dangerous……So sad….
you people amaze me with your stupid comments about the bps. they are doing us a favor bringing this to our attention and do not want people in our community to be wrongly involved in something that has been sent to your phone by a fool.
I just deleted it..didn’t even look at it as I had been warned about it in a previous text. Apparently originated in Jamaica…received a message later to say that the man in the picture was SEVERELY dealt with…..
People are just sick nowadays..
I receive all sorts of unsolicited messages from people I don’t even know. Some of it is a pleasant surprise (i.e. partially dressed full figured women) some of it is rather offensive (men pics), but never child porn…I think if I ever get child porn I’ll report the sender. But its unfair if I delete it (apparently the residual data can’t be removed) I’m held accountable….Mark you should have the AG fix this
They should just be grateful that people were sending these images around. This is a way of people helping to locate or target people who are or may know of the sexual offender. Now my question would be, why is it that the police dont look into these ‘images’ being sent around? The last one I was shown, was of a 4 year old girl being forced into an oral act with an adult male. So tell me BPS, where are you trying to stop these occurrences!?
You just admitted to looking at child pornography. Congrats!
You should report the pervert who sent it to you immediately. Unless, of course, YOU have your own reasons for not doing so…@Shasha, you LOOKED at this picture and did NOTHING? That is a child, and you just LOOKED? Shame. I hope you don’t have children, nieces, nephews, grands, OR neighbors.
The image was actually shown to me from someone elses phone. I had recomended that they deleted it which they did. The police really do nothing about instances like this here. So they catch the guy, lock him up for maybe 5 years then release him on ‘good’ behaviour only for him to continue his acts…. Its happened too many times before
Please tell me you are not being serious Sasha ? Everytime that image was forwarded to a fresh pair of eyes that poor child was abused again. This is not the way to catch the perpetrators, it only serves to ‘normalise’ these images by having them go viral. These perverts ten think it is ok to do the same to another innocent child.
You want them caught? Report the image to the police immediately. End of.
@Sasha the Police do regularly send the images we receive to our overeas policing partners. We can say the most recent image was reported to Interpol and they have indicated this picture has been in circulation for sometime and we can confirm the image did not originate in Bermuda.
It is simple if you receive a child exploitive image (child porn) delete it immediately and or report it to the police do not for any reason send it to anyone.
Hope this helps.
Child Porn. You cant be you serious.The only people excused are the people who receive this trash without knowing what is being sent to them and they report it.The people who receive it delete it but dont report it I guess you have your reasons. Anybody else involved in it by knowingly passing it on,showing it,watching it, uploading and/or downloading it and sharing it in any other nasty disguting way,especially if you find it interesting you should check yourself you might be a candidate to be a child molester. SICK SICK SICK!!!!!
@ Dwayne: Thank you for clarifying the process. I am glad to know our police service is working with the international police to stamp out this type of harmful and degrading behavior.
I am grateful I have never received such pictures, at least not knowingly, since I tend to delete anything that comes with an attachment from an unknown source. Just the thought of a little child being forced into sexual activities with an adult really distresses me.
From wat I understand the picture was taken 4 yrs ago. And the father of the child is serving life behind bars 4 killing the guy who done this. Yes I agree this is some sick s*#@ n I no if that ever happened 2 anyone of my nieces or god daughters I’ll be BEYOND pissed!!!!
How about the Police do what they are paid for and find and prosecute the source of these disgusting images, don’t we have an electronic crime division
@ Y-girl a few men have been prosecuted and jailed for possessing pornographic images of children in the last 3 years. Again the most recent images were not in Bermuda. Please do not miss the key point individuals passing on the images and storing those images on their phones and computers are committing a crime. The BPS are educating the public, that is all.
Thanks for your understanding
DC thanks for letting us know someone in position at least takes the time to consider posts in social media. My concern is that a electronics forensics detective can find residual data of an offensive image on a PC, mobile phone, etc and can determine that the offensive image resided on that device, which technically makes a whole lot of people guilty of storing illegal porn. Please have the AG consider this ‘loophole’ may be exploited by a smart lawyer.