19 Oct 2014

The Botswana Police Service (BPS) is concerned about the growing trend in which some individuals or groups exchange or distribute pornographic or obscene material on social media.

A press release from BPS’ public relations officer, Assistant Commissioner Christopher Mbulawa, stated that of great concern was the exchange or distribution of real or simulated pictures depicting children engaged in sexual intercourse, exhibition of the private parts of children and other immoral sexual activities.

It further stated that the BPS was inundated with notifications from Interpol general secretariat regarding some Batswana or persons resident in Botswana who were internationally listed for possession, manufacture and distribution of child pornography on the Internet. 

The BPS also identified some culprits that were involved in these activities. The list had been growing by the day and this caused a concern to the police.

Amazingly, the release stated, many of the culprits that were arrested claimed that they did not know that the exchange and distribution of pornographic or obscene material through the Internet constituted an offense punishable by law. 

The BPS would therefore like to warn the public that it is a serious offence contrary to Section 16 (3) of the Cybercrime and Computer Related Crime Act (Cap 08:06) to exchange, distribute pornographic or obscene material depicting children on social media.

The public is urged to desist from such practices and to report anyone they suspect to be engaged in such immoral acts. ENDS