Internet complaints
Internet complaints
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) is an independent body formed to implement proposals agreed between Police, Government and the internet industry to address the problem of illegal material on the Internet. It has a particular reference to Child Pornography - and is contactable 24 hrs to take any reports from members of the public.
The IWF will take reports of what a person believes to be illegal (rather than what that person regards as tasteless or immoral) and will assess the material to see if it is potentially illegal. In such cases the IWF will attempt to trace the origin of the material, forward the information to Police and contact the ISP to have the material removed.
If you discover illegal or offensive material on the internet
Police officers within Sussex can only take direct action where the material happens to fall within the jurisdiction of Sussex Police.
It often happens that people report matters to us that turn out to have the offenders and offence committed in another country. However, you should be mindful if:
- The persons who created this material are in the UK.
- The material is downloaded onto computers in the UK.
- It is possible that it could be evidence of criminal offences committed in the UK.
- It is possible that it could be evidence of crimes committed by a UK citizen travelling abroad. Then it could be a matter for a police force within the UK, although not necessarily Sussex Police.
Advice
If you discover illegal or offensive material on the internet, please do not contact Sussex Police directly. Instead, contact the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).
The IWF has a specific remit to operate a hotline for members of the public to report incidences of illegal online content defined as:
- child sexual abuse content hosted anywhere in the world
- criminally obscene adult content hosted in the UK
- non-photographic child sexual abuse hosted in the UK
If they decide any action is needed, they will contact the Internet Service Provider (ISP) or the police, who can take appropriate action. It's worth remembering that evidence of illegal or offensive material can be detected even after it has been deleted from a computer.
The IWF are qualified to judge the illegality of material and will report matters to the relevant police force.
Reports from the public help the IWF to remove the images from the internet and to support the investigative processes which could bring those responsible to justice.
Child sexual abuse images record the real abuse of a child and your reports to the IWF might help the authorities to trace and rescue a young victim from further exploitation.