Police ask schools to help identify child abuse victims

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Primary school teachers and other staff in the Netherlands are to be called upon for assistance in identifying victims of child pornography.

The new Schoololalert system will allow police and prosecutorial departments to consult schools, sometimes under strict conditions, officials said Tuesday.

Police say teachers who sign up for the system can see their faces and clothes, but not pornographic material. Once the child has been identified, the image will be deleted.

“Victims of online child abuse are often young children between the ages of 4 and 12, so primary education provides the best opportunity to identify them,” said Police Chief Ben Juan Mierlo. We expect 90% of elementary schools to participate and use Alerts three to four times a year.”

Seeking help from teachers, rather than appealing to the national media, would also reduce the impact on young victims, Van Mierlo said.

Similar systems are already in use in Germany and Austria with success.