Shetland alert over male exposure on chatrooms

POLICE on Shetland have issued an urgent warning following reports that young men on the islands are exposing themselves to young women and girls and encouraging them to do the same over video chatrooms.

Police on Shetland had been made aware of incidents, involving mobile phones and computers, of males exposing themselves to young women and girls and encouraging them to reciprocate using applications and sites where online chats are encouraged between strangers.

Chief Inspector MacInnes, the Shetland area commander with Northern Constabulary, said: “The real danger of young people and children using these sites is that they can be exposed to extremely inappropriate content and are open to grooming and abuse. There are also allegations of young people being encouraged to use and copy pornographic material in their relationships.”

He continued: “Modern mobile phones or smart phones are in essence small computers. The latest phones provide great opportunities for being more connected in the digital world, but can also therefore pose a risk for users to be identified or located, and send or receive images they may feel uncomfortable with.

“I would strongly advise parents and carers to be aware of the extent to which young vulnerable people can be exposed to such material through mobile phones, and other digital devices.”