POLICE WARNING FOR MOBILE PHONE USERS

Harlow and Bishop's The Citizen, UK: 16 April 2006
http://www.bishopsstortfordcitizen.co.uk/display.var.731201.0.police_warning_for_mobile_phone_users.php
[ http://tinyurl.com/hyz3r ]

POLICE are warning of the inappropriate use of mobile phones after
indecent images from a video phone ended up on the internet.

Hertfordshire Constabulary said that in the past few weeks there have
been two cases involving girls in the county performing acts of gross
indecency which have been videoed on a mobile phone and later shared
with others via mobile phones and posted on the internet.

Detective Sergeant Gez Ellis said: "This is an extremely serious
matter. What has started off as a bit of fun has turned into an
extremely distressing experience for the girls involved.

"It appears the girls believed the images would be immediately deleted
but this has not happened."

Police are stressing it is illegal to take, distribute and be in
possession of indecent images of children aged under 18. Anyone who
does so could be prosecuted and, depending on the age of the
participants, may find themselves facing a prison sentence and being
put on the sex offenders' register.

DS Ellis added: "It is all too easy to misuse current technology and
we are urging people to think very carefully about what they do with
their mobile phones and the implications of their actions.

"What starts out as a bit of fun could potentially ruin the lives of
everyone involved."