THIS National Child Protection Week, Victoria Police are urging young people to be considerate about sharing intimate images of themselves online and to make a report if it happens without their consent.
It is illegal to share an explicit image or video of someone without their consent in Victoria – yet police are still seeing it occur, particularly among those under the age of 18.
Figures from the Crime Statistics Agency show intimate image-based offences involving victims under the age of 18 has increased by 24 per cent in the year to March 2024.
There were 310 intimate image-based offences involving victims under the age of 18 during this period, compared to 251 the year prior.
Detectives from the Sexual Offence and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (SOCIT) and Victorian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET), which is comprised of both Victoria Police and AFP investigators, have been working to investigate reports of the crime and support victims.
In concerning trends identified by investigators, explicit photos and videos of underage students, shared with consent at the time, are later being further circulated online via social media to other students, this time without the person’s permission.
Detective Senior Sergeant Miro Majstorovic said protecting young people from harm was a priority for police.
“We are urging young people to be aware of the risks of sharing intimate images of themselves and to please speak up – whether it’s to a parent, school teacher or police – if they find themselves in a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable,” he said.
“The more we know – the more we can do something about it and keep victims safe.”
Other cases can include young couples, who, after ending a relationship, might then intentionally share intimate images of the other party for revenge or other reasons, without that person’s consent.
Victoria Police wants to make it clear that sharing an explicit image of someone without their consent is never acceptable, it is against the law and those who choose to engage in this kind of reprehensible behaviour will be caught and held accountable for their actions.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Colbert, Joint Anti-Child Exploitation team, said the reality is young people these days are sharing intimate images.
“We really need to be having positive conversations with the young people in our lives about it,” he said.
“Things like, do you really know who you are sharing intimate images with, don’t include your face in the image, don’t have backgrounds where you can identify what school you go to or where you are.
“If you are a parent, aunty, uncle or grandparent – please have the brave conversation with the young person in your life about this.
“Ensure you create an environment where they feel they can come to you they can be supported appropriately.”
Both SOCIT and JACET detectives are regularly visiting schools across the state to ensure students, teachers, parents and school staff know how and where to seek help.
If you, the young person in your life, or anyone you know has had their intimate images shared without their consent, speak to police, or if you would prefer, use online forums such as ReportCyber and the ESafety Commissioner which will assess the report and provide them to police.
If you receive someone’s intimate images, please contact police.
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner can also assist with removal of illegal and harmful online content.
When social media sites, such as Facebook and Instagram, detect images of a child under 18 they are mandated to make a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
In an emergency call Triple Zero (000). If you can’t get to a phone, ask someone else to do it for you.