Police in the north are probing a string of cases of threatened extortion involving naked images of youngsters and so-called “revenge porn”.
The region’s most senior officer has urged people to be vigilant and be wary of sending explicit pictures of themselves via texts or social media.
And one charity revealed children as young as 12 had been victims.
Police Scotland’s Highlands and islands area commander Chief Superintendent Philip MacRae stressed that although the number of incidents reported was on the increase, it remained low.
But he said it was of “serious concern” to the force.
Ch Supt MacRae said: “We’ve had a marginal increase in these crimes.
“It’s a consequence of new technologies where there’s a growing tendency for folk to exchange pretty graphic images of themselves.
“It’s adults as well as youngsters, and any such incident is a concern to us.
“I’ve highlighted this to reflect that with an increase in Class 1 crimes – the most serious offences – it’s not all about ‘contact’ offences or serious assaults.
“There are other issues within the classification of such crimes and a marginal increase in the crime of ‘threats’.
“We’re talking less than a dozen but it’s something we need to be aware of. Child sexual exploitation is something we’re particularly concerned about.”
His advice is simple.
Ch Supt MacRae said: “Don’t swap photographs on any media at all that you wouldn’t be comfortable with anybody seeing.
“If you have a photograph someone is trying to elicit from you, whether you know them or not, if you’re not comfortable for the majority of people to see that photograph – don’t share it.”
The impact of revenge porn has registered with women’s refuges in the Highlands.
Based on feedback from her clients, Ross-shire Women’s Aid manager Heather Williams believes police have probably been “inundated” with calls about adults sharing intimate photographs following bitter break-ups.
She said: “We don’t keep statistical records on this but it’s certainly something we’re seeing more of, with threats of posting such pictures on social media.
“New technology is being used by abusers, particularly in relation to young people, some as young as 12.
“In the last year we’ve had maybe three or four cases involving 12 to 16-year-olds. Anecdotally, I’d say it’s a bigger issue than that.
“It’s not new. In the past it was Polaroids. The internet offers a whole wider locus and it’s concerning.”
Overall, crime in Highland for the April-August period was down, with a 1.4% reduction in Class 1-4 crimes – from 2,311 last year to 2,279.
However, the number of sexual crimes was up by 5%, from 217 to 230 for the same period, and the number of non-sexual crimes of violence increased from 87 to 109.
