Parents warned to check children’s devices or face the consequences

PARENTS ARE BEING reminded that it is their responsibility to monitor their children’s online activities with a warning that they can be charged under the law if found guilty of engaging in cyberbullying.

This warning came from Corporal Aleea Stapleton attached to the Information Technology Department of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF).

Speaking on WEFM’s Cop Chat on the topic ‘The Impact of Child Abuse On Our Communities’, Corporal Stapleton disclosed that peer-on-peer abuse, through online media are incidents seen frequently by the Department.

“In my department we see that through cyberbullying you have persons going out of their way to rag on other children- to criticize them, to put their images on different platforms and this has a great psychological impact on these kids and because parents don’t monitor these spaces … this is where we see most of the child-on-child abuse occurring right now.”

Corporal Stapleton said that the laws of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) allow for children as young as age eight to be charged for crimes. He added, that while the decision for laying charges rests with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), all matters reported to the police are investigated.

“The age of criminal responsibility in St Vincent and the Grenadines is eight years old. So once you do that, you have committed an offense, and once you report it police will investigate it. Whether the DPP’s office or the police choose to go a different way, it will be investigated and you will get yourself in trouble.

He noted that under the 2016 Cyber Crime Act, cyberbullying carries stiff penalties if convicted. Penalties under the Act include fines ranging from $150,000 to $250,000 and also a custodial sentence.

Corporal Stapleton also said the Department has recognized a trend where parents are not properly monitoring their children’s use of electronic devices.

Click here to subscribe to read the full article in the E-paper!