TEENAGERS are being urged by police not to send provocative pictures of themselves to partners — to avoid embarrassment and breaking the law.

It is illegal for anyone under 18 to consent for an indecent image of themselves to be made or sent to another person, even if they are in a relationship with them.

Bolton police from are anxious teenagers realise sending naked pictures to each other - known as sexting - is a criminal offence and are keen parents monitor how they are using their phones.

They have received a number of reports recently from parents and teachers concerned that young people have taken or received indecent images.

The warning comes weeks after naked images of celebrities, said to include Cat Deeley, Avril Lavigne, Jennifer Lawrence and Rihanna, were published after seemingly being taken from Apple’s iCloud storage service.

Det Insp Charlotte Cadden, from Bolton North neighbourhood policing team, said: “If you share this type of image, you are committing offences which will have very serious consequences for your future.

“If the police are contacted, the young people involved may be arrested and any phones will be examined in front of parents.

“Your phone and computer will be destroyed and if convicted, you may also struggle to get a job, especially one that involves working with children.”

The law was changed in 2004, so that the definition of a child in relation to this offence was raised from 16 to 18. The only defence is for married couples who are aged 16 or 17.

Det Insp Cadden added: “Mostly, teenage relationships do not last a lifetime. Some may end badly and this can lead to ex-partners posting the indecent images on social media sites or sending them directly to their ex’s friends and family to cause embarrassment and, ultimately, harassment.

"If you are being pushed into taking pictures for someone, this is exploitation and speak to someone you trust or contact the police straight away.

“Parents should have these difficult conversations and, with consent, look through the content of phones they pay for, to make sure their sons and daughters are not being exploited.

"Safeguarding young people is everyone’s business.”

The message comes after police launched "It’s Not Okay", a campaign to protect children by increasing people’s understanding of child sexual exploitation and the warning signs.

The campaign comes in the wake of last month’s publication of a report by Professor Alexis Jay which outlined how 1,400 children in Rotherham were abused between 1997 and 2013.