Parents and carers across Worcestershire have been told to inspect their children’s phones and messaging app settings after pupils were found to have been added to a WhatsApp group that reportedly contained potentially illegal sexual content.
School and agencies raise alarm
South Bromsgrove High School sent an email to families last Friday warning that some pupils had been included in the group without their consent. The school described the matter as a serious safeguarding concern, a message that was prompted by information shared by Worcestershire County Council and West Mercia Police.
“The sharing of this material presents a significant risk to the safety and wellbeing of children,”
The email, seen by InfoRadar, urged parents to keep open conversations with their children about online safety and to monitor how smartphones and social and messaging apps are used. The school has not provided further comment beyond the notice to families.
Police and council guidance for families
West Mercia Police said it had not received formal reports about the specific group but was aware of the situation and working with partner agencies. The force advised that any child added to a group containing inappropriate or illegal content should not save, forward or share images or videos and should instead:
- leave the group immediately,
- report the content to the platform (WhatsApp/Meta), and
- tell a trusted adult as soon as possible.
A Worcestershire County Council spokesperson confirmed the authority had received information about the safeguarding concern and reiterated the importance of parents knowing how to check and update privacy settings and how to make reports.
Practical steps for parents
Meta, which owns WhatsApp, reminded families they can adjust settings to reduce the risk of being added to groups without permission. In practical terms, parents should consider reviewing:
| Action | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Check privacy settings | Prevents strangers or unapproved contacts adding a child to groups |
| Look through recent group memberships | Identify any unfamiliar groups and remove the child |
| Talk with your child | Ensures they know not to forward or save inappropriate material |
Both police and council emphasised that children who have been exposed to illegal material should be supported to report it and not blamed. Anyone who believes a child is at risk of harm or has been exposed to illegal content should contact West Mercia Police.
The incident has prompted renewed reminders from schools and local authorities about digital safeguarding as messaging platforms remain a common route for young people to communicate — and sometimes a vehicle for risking their safety without intent.
