Inspector Mark Clarke, Officer in Charge of the Vulnerable Persons Unit – Good day. 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.