Dealing with inappropriate or illegal content

What should I do if I find inappropriate or potentially illegal content on a school computer?

Your school’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) should advise you how to report any breaches of the school network, including if you find inappropriate or potentially illegal content on a school computer.

The AUP should include the following guidance:

• Report the incident to your school’s e-safety co-ordinator and a senior manager immediately.
• If the content is online, report it to the service provider too - for example, if it is on a social networking site, contact them directly and ask them to investigate. You can find contact details for the UK’s leading internet, social networking and mobile providers on Teachtoday.
• If you have concerns that potentially illegal activity is being carried out on - or that potentially illegal content (such as indecent images of children) could be contained on - a school computer, do the same as above and also refer the matter to the police and the Internet Watch Foundation. 
• If you’re worried that one of your students is at risk of child abuse online (or offline, following contact made online), discuss the matter with your school’s e-safety co-ordinator and a senior manager and report it to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre. If you think someone could be in immediate danger, contact the police too.
• If illegal content is found on the school’s computer network, it’s essential that no-one downloads, prints or emails it (as this can be a criminal offence in itself) and that the suspect computer is not touched (not even turned on or off) so as to preserve the evidence.
• Where the police are involved in this kind of incident, the head teacher should contact the LEA to seek legal advice and should also consider how to handle potential media enquiries.
• Involve pastoral care and child protection staff if a student has been involved in the incident.

Where can I find out more?

• Check your school’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for guidance on what action you should take.
• Speak to your school’s e-safety co-ordinator and technical support staff.
• Read Becta’s ‘AUPs in Context’.
• Refer to Becta’s flowchart for responding to e-safety incidents.