Probe follows complaints of X-rated photos being shared by teens on Sydney’s northern beaches

According to detectives, female schoolgirls are sending the explicit selfies - at the request of boys - only to discover those images are being shared with other youths.

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POLICE have interviewed several peninsula youths following complaints that teen girls’ explicit pictures are being shared on multiple mobile phones without their permission.

According to detectives, the female students are sending the X-rated selfies, at the request of boys, only to find those pictures later being shared with other youths.

Police have interviewed several youths.

All of those involved were under 18.

Parents of the boys involved have also been spoken to by police to reinforce the message with their children.

Police warn that the ramifications for anyone sending and receiving such pictures could be very serious later in life.

And, in the worst case, they could be charged with transmitting child abuse material.

Northern Beaches Police crime manager Inspector Craig Wonders said: “Once the photos are online they are in the public forum and it’s virtually impossible to remove them. The photos are there forever.

“Parents should tell their children never to post images of themselves online.”

He said anyone who received an explicit image of a person who was aged under 18 and then transmitted it to another person needed to realise that they were committing a serious offence, one that required a criminal investigation.

Police warn that the ramifications for anyone sending and receiving such pictures could be very serious.

“They may be friends of the same age, but the nature of the image and the age of the person in the image may lead to the person transmitting that image facing very serious charges,” Insp Wonders said.

“Everyone involved – the person who takes the image and sends it to someone and the person who receives it and sends it to someone else – should think very carefully about what they’re doing.

“Because the girls are under 18, it could lead to a serious criminal investigation and charges of transmitting child abuse material.”

Insp Wonders said that while it may seem to be innocent at the time, the ramifications for all parties later in life could be quite serious.

“Any parents who are concerned about this type of behaviour are encouraged to contact the police and seek advice from our youth liaison officers,” Insp Wonders said.

WHAT IS SEXTING?

Sexting is using the internet or mobile phone to share sexy or nude photos

Sexting is a crime when it involves people under 18 or involves harassment

When it involves people under 18, it can be called child pornography or an act of indecency

The maximum penalty for child pornography is 15 years in jail

The maximum penalty for an act of indecency is two years in jail if the person is under 16, and 18 months in jail if the person is under 18

Even asking for or sending a nude or sexy photo can be deemed an indecent act and therefore a crime

The law says that while you are under 18, you aren’t allowed to consent (say yes) to sexting – even though you are able to have sex at 16

If you are under 18 and need legal advice, call the Youth Hotline on 1800 101 810

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