Police and schools join to fight shocking posts

John Paul College Principal Patrick Walsh. Photo / Stephen Parker

New cases of offensive posts by schoolboys have been raised with police at a top-level meeting after revelations boys escaped prosecution for putting lewd pictures of drunk girls on Facebook.

Secondary Principals' Association executive member Patrick Walsh told the Herald on Sunday he discussed fresh incidents involving schoolboys and shocking posts on social media with police last week.

"We were able to canvas on behalf of secondary school principals a range of issues that the police are now aware of. We're going to work collaboratively with them," he said.

The latest incidents come after concern about a group of senior schoolboys who plied girls with alcohol before photographing them with genitalia dangling over their faces, as part of a competition hosted on a Facebook page.

But despite a police investigation, the teens escaped with a warning - to the dismay of principals and sex attack support workers. The case was revealed by the Herald on Sunday two weeks ago.

Police Minster Michael Woodhouse told Parliament the decision not to lay formal charges was made after seeking legal advice. A young woman involved in the incident was satisfied with the outcome, he said.

Walsh and police are now refusing to comment further on the case.

Walsh said the recent meeting to discuss the case had resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding to provide clear guidelines for principals and police when managing offensive online behaviour by pupils.

Deputy commissioner Mike Clement said principals and police shared the same concerns at the rise in offensive online behaviour linked to a massive increase in social media use by young people.

He said the police took all allegations of sexual misconduct and assault seriously and would investigate them appropriately.

Cases involving alleged sexual misconduct, particularly those involving young people and online activity, were often complex and required careful consideration of legal, privacy and public interest concerns.

He said police had to take into account a range of factors, including the evidential test as required under the Solicitor-General's guidelines, legal opinions and the wishes of the victim and their family.