Kids quizzed over social networking sites

Police have questioned more than 180 youngsters over their use of social networking websites.

Officers said they spoke to the children, some as young as 12, after concerns that the content on some sites raised "child safety issues".

These included young people being involved in alcohol abuse, potentially exposing themselves to violence, the possession of weapons, racism and sectarianism.

Other intelligence was also gathered related to criminal offences, including drug-dealing activities.

As a result of the operation in central Scotland, several youngsters have been reported to the procurator fiscal and the children's panel for serious assault, theft and breaking bail.

Central Scotland Police said a further 72 reports were submitted relating to vulnerable adults and children under 16.

Youngsters aged between 12 and 18 in the Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire areas were spoken to by police, who identified them from pictures posted on the internet.

Assistant Chief Constable Derek Penman said: "This operation has been carried out as a result of intelligence received that such sites, in particular Bebo, were acting as a conduit for a range of behaviour which was extremely concerning from a number of angles.

"When we started looking, what became clear was that young people aged from very early teens through to late teens and young adulthood were involved in open displays of aggression and other unacceptable behaviour, apparently fuelled by drink in many cases.

"Our key priority is to preserve community safety and to enhance child safety so we decided to take this intrusive and robust, but balanced course of action which has seen a significant multi-agency effort dedicated to raising awareness of the overall issue and taking appropriate action where necessary."

School staff, social work officers and health officials were among those who helped police with the operation.

The youngsters were interviewed by officers about their online activity in the presence of their parents of guardians.

"In many cases the parent or guardian was simply unaware of their child's use of social networking in this way and reaction ranged from shock to disgust," Mr Penman added.

"In some cases sites were accessed in the presence of police officers and immediate access to the internet or the computer were withdrawn."

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