A powerful new educational tool is being launched in schools across Scotland to help young people recognise and respond to the growing threat of sextortion.
The initiative comes from Fearless, the youth-focused wing of independent charity Crimestoppers, and marks the latest phase of its ongoing campaign to protect young people from online blackmail.
Unveiled at Meldrum Academy in Aberdeenshire, the new resource is a short, accessible video and set of facilitator notes designed to support teachers, youth workers and college staff in having frank, informed conversations about sextortion.
Crucially, the material has been co-created with young people themselves, ensuring it is both engaging and relevant.
Backed by the Scottish Government and Police Scotland, the campaign has already seen impressive results.
Fearless’ recently published impact report reveals that their online campaign reached over 15 million people and drove more than 98,000 young people, parents and professionals to the Fearless website for advice.
These efforts are believed to have played a vital role in reducing sextortion cases in Scotland, with Police Scotland reporting a 32.2 percent drop in reports in 2024 compared with the previous year.
That progress, though encouraging, has not come from one organisation alone.
School Engagement Officers have been delivering presentations in classrooms across the country, while support from the National Crime Agency, media partners and a wide network of frontline services has helped elevate the conversation and break down stigma.
Now, this latest Fearless resource aims to keep that momentum going.
Informed by direct feedback from educators, it fills a clear gap: a need for something short, practical and trusted to help initiate what can be a very difficult conversation.
Sextortion, often referred to as ‘sexual extortion’, involves criminals threatening to share intimate images if demands aren’t met.
It can involve real or doctored images, and the pressure placed on victims can be overwhelming.
That’s why Fearless is urging young people who find themselves in this situation to stay calm, not pay or comply, and seek help straight away.
Minister for Victims and Community Safety, Siobhian Brown, attended the launch and praised the new material for helping young people navigate these risks before the summer holidays begin.
She reinforced the message that no victim is ever to blame and that support is always available.
Lyndsay McDade, Fearless Scotland Manager, said the team is proud of how this campaign has put young voices at its heart.
She added that the resource can be confidently used in a wide variety of youth settings thanks to its flexible design and trusted content.
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson called sextortion a particularly cruel form of blackmail but welcomed the drop in reports as a sign that awareness is making a real difference.
He stressed that every case is treated with care and seriousness, and that police are determined to identify perpetrators and protect victims.
To help ensure young people continue to feel supported over the summer break, Fearless will keep running targeted social media campaigns linking directly to help and information.
