Young people 'targeted' on social media

Gardaí urge blackmail victims to come forward

Tipperary gardaí have been dealing with a number of instances where young people have been “targeted” and subjected to blackmail on social media.

Briefing a recent meeting of the county Joint Policing Committee, Chief Superintendent Colm O'Sullivan was glad to report a decline in most types of crime in Tipperary. But he said one area that has become concerning to gardaí is harassment of young people on social media.

Victims are being asked to exchange intimate photographs with the perpetrators. The victims are then told that the other party has access to their phone or laptop, and that their intimate images will be shared with their friends and family unless money is paid over.

“We've had a number of cases reported to us,” Chief Supt O'Sullivan told the meeting, outlining the trauma experienced by the injured parties. “They may be too ashamed to come forward. Let us help you. Don't be alone in this. Talk to your family, talk to your friends.”

He said these incidents are happening across the county and the gardaí can help if they are informed about it.

Deputy Martin Browne asked if Tipperary Co Council could work with the gardaí in starting a local campaign on the situation. Cllr Marie Murphy suggested an awareness campaign in Tipperary schools.

Chief Supt O'Sullivan said the gardaí have a Crime Prevention Officer delivering a programme in schools to raise awareness of this kind of activity and inform young people of what they can do about it.

In a presentation on patterns of crime in Tipperary over the last three months, the Chief Super reported that property crime (including robbery, burglary and theft offences) was down 11% (375 to 335 offences) compared to the same period last year. There were 65 offences in the Nenagh district, the same number as in December 2021 to February 2022.

Crimes against the person (including the likes of threats, assaults and harassment) were down 27% (179 to 131 offences) countywide. Forty-one of these were in the Nenagh district, a 32% decline on the previous period.

Drug offences also decreased - the number of drugs possession for sale/supply offences dropped 34% to 23 offences. Possession for personal use was down from 97 to 94 offences, 11 of which were in Nenagh.

There were 14 cases of possession of offensive weapons across the division, one less than in the previous three-month period. Most types of road traffic offences also decreased.

The notable exception in the patterns of crime was domestic abuse (including domestic violence and breaches of protection orders), which increased again, this time by 18%.

Cllr Noel Coonan noted that the domestic abuse incidence has been increasing year on year and described this as a "worrying trend". The increase was previously linked with the pandemic and people confined at home, though victims are coming forward with greater confidence to report abuse.