Entertainment

Katie Price’s son Harvey ‘cruelly mocked by police officers’ sparking internal investigation


KATIE Price’s disabled teen son Harvey has allegedly been the victim of cruel jibes from cops in Scotland.

An internal investigation has been launched by British Transport Police after officers in Edinburgh reportedly sent video messages mocking Harvey, 17.

 Katie Price's disabled teen son Harvey has allegedly been the victim of cruel jibes from cops in Scotland

3

Katie Price’s disabled teen son Harvey has allegedly been the victim of cruel jibes from cops in ScotlandCredit: PA:Press Association

A source told The Mirror: “Katie is sick to the back teeth of people making her son the butt of tasteless jokes.

“These are grave allegations. Police officers are expected to take any hate crime of this nature with the utmost ­seriousness.

“The powers that be need to get to the bottom of this.”

A police spokesman confirmed allegations, telling the publication: “We can confirm an officer is under investigation in relation to allegations of gross misconduct and potential criminal offences.

“He is on restricted ­administrative duties. Two further officers are also under investigation following claims of misconduct.”

The Sun Online has contacted British Transport Police for comment.

 Katie's petition to make online abuse a specific criminal offence after Harvey was targeted by online trolls won the backing of a parliamentary committee

3

Katie’s petition to make online abuse a specific criminal offence after Harvey was targeted by online trolls won the backing of a parliamentary committeeCredit: SWNS

A whistleblower’s complaint sparked the investigation, with a male officer potentially facing criminal charges for gross misconduct.

Two other officers will face a misconduct disciplinary hearing. All three have been served with Regulation 15 Notices – alerting them of the complaint.

The Mirror reports a mobile phone containing footage of an officer trolling Harvey has been seized.

Back in January Katie’s petition to make online abuse a specific criminal offence after Harvey was targeted by online trolls won the backing of a parliamentary committee.

A report by the House of Commons Petitions Committee said self-regulation of social media has failed and current laws are not fit for purpose.

It added the Government and social media firms must directly consult with disabled people on digital strategy and hate crime law, and that social media firms need to accept responsibility for allowing “toxic environments to exist unchallenged”.

The inquiry was launched after Price, 41, started a petition to make online abuse a specific criminal offence and create a register of offenders after highlighting the online abuse her son, Harvey, who is partially blind, autistic and has Prader-Willi syndrome.

The petition had attracted more than 220,000 signatures before being closed early due to the 2017 general election.

Committee chair Helen Jones MP said: “The law on online abuse is not fit for purpose and it is truly shameful that disabled people have been forced off social media while their abusers face no consequences.

“There is no excuse for the continued failure to make online platforms as safe for disabled people. Self-regulation has failed disabled people and the law must change to ensure more lives are not destroyed.”

Katie told the committee in February last year her partially blind and autistic Harvey had been subject to “horrific” abuse online, but social media providers repeatedly failed to act.

 The model with her son Harvey, who is targeted by online bullies

3

The model with her son Harvey, who is targeted by online bulliesCredit: Rex Features

Price told a Commons committee: “I went to the police, they were disgusted, they were so good. But then they rang me to say, ‘There’s nothing we can do’ as there’s nothing in place to charge these people.

“Since then the abuse is getting worse and worse.”

She added: “I’ve tried my own way of naming a shaming people online, I’ve done everything I can but nothing has he been done to stop it. There needs to be more security checks.”

She wants trolls prosecuted and a register naming them.

A petition launched by the ex-model attracted more than 220,000 signatures in a week.

She said she could protect Harvey but some kids may take their own life after one abusive message.

Most Read In TV & Showbiz

The 39-year-old said the online abusers would get in trouble for saying the things they message about Harvey if they said them to him in person – so why is it any different.

Adding that due to his size and disability trolls found her 15-year-old son “an easy target”, but vowed: “I’m his voice, I’m going to protect him.”

MPs had to act, warned Ms Price, who joked: “Otherwise I’ll be like Arnold Schwarzenegger. I’ll be back.”

Her mother Amy, who was also at Westminster with ­Harvey, said: “What makes us angry as a family is he can’t defend himself. If it was face to face they wouldn’t do it.”

And she said the cruel jibes have had an effect on Katie’s other children.

Katie Price brings anti-bullying campaign to Parliament

But Katie defiantly told the panel: “Like me or hate me I’m here to protect others.”

“It will all be worth it if I can create a new law.”


We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.





READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.