The media don’t publish information about every online child sexual abuse offence but people often tell us they’re worried about it when a loved one is arrested.
Court reporters attend criminal courts and may choose to cover any case. These reporters are overseen by the Independent Press Standards Organisation, adhering to clear reporting guidelines. They are permitted to report information presented in court about the criminal case, as long as the details are publicly available.
There are steps you can take to mitigate the impact of media coverage.
What to do
- You might want to think about whether to tell close family or friends if you’re worried they discover the situation through the media.
- For people under investigation and their families, we recommend temporarily deactivating social media accounts or adjusting privacy settings during sentencing hearings to minimise exposure to media coverage.
- If you are worried about potential targeting by people in the community, it’s advisable to get in touch with the police, who can assess the possibility of implementing added security measures.
What not to do
- Don’t look for similar cases covered by the media. It can be distressing and sentencing outcomes vary from case to case.
Find a story here explaining the experience of someone we supported who faced media coverage and how they managed the situation and how they coped.
