Source: UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) published on this site Monday 24 March 2025 by Jill Powell

Ensuring a secure and professional online presence is essential for schools and colleges, especially when managing images and videos. The UK Safer Internet Centre, in collaboration with the Professionals Online Safety Helpline (POSH) and the UKCIS Early Warning Working Group, has released guidance to help educational institutions protect students and staff from potential misuse of digital media.

Access Guidance

Why image and video management matters

The misuse of publicly shared images and videos presents risks such as data privacy breaches and unauthorised distribution. Schools and colleges must remain vigilant in their approach to managing media content online, particularly on publicly accessible platforms such as school websites and social media accounts. Properly managing images not only safeguards students and staff but also reinforces their commitment to online safety and responsible digital engagement.

Key guidelines for schools and colleges

The guidance breaks down several key areas. Schools should regularly audit their online content, ensuring that student images are used appropriately and in line with data protection policies. A ‘Names-No-Images / Images-No-Names’ policy can reduce risks, while restricting public access by using password-protected platforms adds an extra layer of security. Removing metadata from images, using lower resolution files, and applying strict privacy settings on social media accounts further helps protect students from potential misuse.

Staff should be trained in secure image management, and clear guidelines should be established for the use of both student and staff images. Schools should engage with parents and carers to communicate safeguarding policies and set expectations for responsible image sharing. Finally, maintaining effective policies and collaborating with online safety organisations will ensure that schools remain up to date with best practices in digital safety.

Adopting best practices

By adopting these best practices, schools and colleges can continue celebrating student achievements whilst ensuring their online presence remains safe, professional, and compliant with data protection regulations. Maintaining a proactive approach to managing images and videos helps create a secure online environment for students, staff, and the wider school community.

Source: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published on this website Thursday 20 March 2025 by Jill Powell

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and Home Office have come together for the first multi-agency conference to tackle ‘honour’-based abuse.

Agencies across the criminal justice system united to break the silence and increase awareness at the first ‘honour’-based abuse conference in Birmingham. 

The event saw Jess Phillips MP, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls join representatives from the CPS, NPCC and third sector organisations to highlight the necessity of multi-agency collaboration to identify and drive improvements to deliver justice for victims of ‘honour’-based abuse.  

Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor and National Honour-Based Abuse lead for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Being the victim of abuse, violence or sexual assault is undoubtedly a harrowing experience, and when this abuse is ‘honour-based’, the challenges can often feel impossible to overcome.

“Our people are determined to see offenders brought to justice and will not hesitate to prosecute for these awful crimes when the legal requirements are met.

“Yesterday’s conference highlighted the cross-system action needed to deliver justice for more victims and encourage them to come forward against their abusers. By using this opportunity to consult third sector organisations and expert voices on our joint protocol with the police, we will strengthen our collective response to ‘honour’-based abuse.”

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Honour-Based Abuse, Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet, said: “The impact of ‘honour’-based abuse is devastating and inflicts life-long harm on victims. Perpetrators of abuse are enabled by silence and it’s important that we listen to and amplify the experiences of victim-survivors to make meaningful progress.

“Policing needs to always do more to ensure that officers understand and identify ‘honour’-based abuse early so they can protect victims and prevent this awful abuse.

“We know that victims face barriers when trying to access support and help, which is why we must work together across agencies and wider society to put an end to ‘honour’-based abuse.”

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, said: “There is no honour in ‘honour’-based abuse which is a serious crime and a human rights abuse - no one should have to experience it.

“This conference marks a crucial step in bringing together the Home Office, Crown Prosecution Service, the police, and specialist sector organisations to raise awareness about these crimes, and to consider how we strengthen our approach to tackling them.

“This Government will use every tool available to crack down on 'honour'-based abuse as a part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.” 

Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP, said: "There is no justification for honour-based abuse in our society today. It was a privilege to talk at the conference to raise awareness of the plight of victims and address the improvements needed.

“Partners across the justice system are collaborating to work with the CPS to help them secure justice for victims of these crimes and hold perpetrators to account in every possible case. This government’s Plan for Change is committed to eradicating violence against women and girls."

‘Honour’-based abuse sees victims suffering horrific crimes such as domestic or sexual abuse, forced marriage or female genital mutilation (FGM), often at the hands of their own families, extended families, or members of their community.

‘Honour’-based abuse crimes are a violation of human rights, but they are often under-reported.

These offences are committed with the aim of protecting or defending the perceived honour of the family or community. It can lead to families acting together to protect the perpetrator as opposed to the victim.

By coming together, we can help to give victims the confidence to come forward, so more abusers are brought to justice, while understanding the needs of victims and their families so they are fully supported.

This work will help contribute towards the government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade. 

Source: National Crime Agency (NCA) published on this website Friday 21 March 2025 by Jill Powell

The National Crime Agency has launched a campaign to combat the threat posed to teenage boys by financially motivated sexual extortion - a type of online blackmail widely known as 'sextortion'.

The campaign has been launched today (20 March) and will feature on social media channels including Instagram, Reddit and Snapchat.

It aims to increase awareness of 'sextortion', drawing attention to the tactics used by offenders and promoting how offences can be reported.

'Sextortion' involves people being forced into paying money or meeting another financial demand, after an offender has threatened to release nude or semi-nude photos of them. This could be a real photo taken by the victim, or a fake image created of them by the offender.

NCA-commissioned research conducted prior to the campaign's launch showed that 74% of boys questioned did not fully understand what sextortion was, the same proportion didn't see requests for nude images as a warning sign or attempt of 'sextortion', 73% were not aware of how to report incidents and only 12% admitted they may be at risk of 'sextortion'.

'Sextortion' can be perpetrated by organised crime groups based overseas, predominantly in some West African countries, but also South East Asia.

They are motivated by making money quickly, rather than by sexual gratification, and in some cases have gone from initial contact to blackmailing their victim in under an hour.

All age groups and genders have been targeted, but the month-long campaign is aimed at boys aged between 15 and 17.

The NCA's CEOP Safety Centre received 380 reports of 'sextortion' in 2024 and in the first five months of 2024, police forces received an average of 117 reports of 'sextortion' from under 18's each month. However, offences related to Child Sexual Abuse are generally underreported and the actual figure is likely to be higher.

In the year to June 2024, the US National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received an average of 556 reports of 'sextortion' per week, amounting to over 28,000 global cases per year – up from 26,718 the previous year.

The campaign follows an unprecedented alert issued by the NCA in April last year to teachers across the UK, which reached an estimated 320,000 - 365,000 people or roughly two thirds of all teaching staff.

These professionals reported that the alert had helped them recognise 'sextortion', and made them better prepared if they should encounter any cases of it.

Alongside this new campaign for teenage boys, the NCA is also issuing guidance for parents and carers on how to support their child if they become a victim. This encourages them to:

• Develop their understanding of 'sextortion'.
• Talk to your child about 'sextortion'
• Recognise reporting routes and how to support their child, if they become a victim of 'sextortion'

Alex Murray, NCA Director of Threat Leadership, said: 

"Sextortion is unimaginably cruel and can have devastating consequences for victims. This campaign will help empower young boys, giving them the knowledge to spot the dangers posed by this crime type and how to report it. It supports them to understand that if it does happen, it is never their fault.

"It will also take the advantage away from the criminals responsible, whose only motivation is financial gain. Sadly, teenagers in the UK and around the world have taken their own lives because of 'sextortion', which has been a major factor behind launching this campaign.

"We are also issuing guidance to parents and carers about how to have conversations with young people to help them spot the dangers posed by perpetrators of 'sextortion'.

"A lot of victims feel responsible for the situation they find themselves in. But we need them to know this is absolutely not the case; you are not to blame and help and support is available. As well as raising awareness, we want to encourage young people to report incidents to an adult they trust, the police or to the CEOP Safety Centre."

Source: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published on this website Wednesday 19 March 2025 by Jill Powell

A Ugandan judge was today convicted at Oxford Crown Court of modern slavery offences against an individual who worked as her nanny.

Lydia Mugambe, 49, was convicted of conspiring to breach UK immigration law, arranging travel for exploitation, requiring a person to perform forced labour and witness intimidation following a three-week trial.  

Mugambe worked with a contact in the Ugandan High Commission to arrange a visa for the victim, under the guise that she would be working in the household and office of the High Commission employee.  

However, once she arrived in the UK, the victim was transported to Mugambe’s home where she worked unpaid as a nanny. Her passport, biometric visa card and phone were taken from her.

Eventually, the victim sought help from a friend which resulted in the police involvement and Mugambe’s arrest. The victim asked her friend to hide her documents after she managed to get them from Mugambe.  

Eran Cutliffe, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime Division, said: 

 "Lydia Mugambe used her position to exploit a vulnerable young woman, controlling her freedom and making her work without payment. Thanks to the victim’s courage in coming forward it has been possible to bring Ms Mugambe to justice and be held accountable for her actions.

“Modern slavery and the exploitation of people by others for their own purposes has no place in modern society. Where there is evidence to support a prosecution, the CPS will not hesitate to seek justice for the victims of this unacceptable practice.”