PSNI网络单位资源不足且不堪重负,未能对掠食者Alexander McCartney迅速采取行动,促成2018年15岁的Cimarron Thomas自杀。 PSNI cyber units, under-resourced and overwhelmed, failed to act swiftly on predator Alexander McCartney, contributing to the 2018 suicide of 15-year-old Cimarron Thomas.

警方监察官的调查发现,北爱尔兰的PSNI网络犯罪单位资源不足,负担过重,未能充分应对网上捕食者Alexander McCartney所构成的风险。 Alexander McCartney的行动助长了2018年15岁的Cimarron Thomas的自杀。 A Police Ombudsman investigation found that Northern Ireland’s PSNI cybercrime units were under-resourced and overwhelmed, failing to adequately respond to risks posed by online predator Alexander McCartney, whose actions contributed to the 2018 suicide of 15-year-old Cimarron Thomas. 尽管2016年在发现McCartney的装置上发现1 100多张不雅图像后逮捕了McCartney,但由于一支只有5名警官而不是14名警官的小组工作,证据处理出现延误,未能及时进行后续访谈。 Despite arresting McCartney in 2016 after finding over 1,100 indecent images on his devices, delays in processing evidence—due to a team operating with only five officers instead of 14—prevented timely follow-up interviews. McCartney被保释两年多,在此期间,他与其他至少七个儿童在网上进行了虐待性互动。 McCartney remained on bail for over two years, during which he engaged in abusive online interactions with at least seven other children. 监察员没有发现任何个人不当行为,但称系统性的资源不足是儿童保护工作受到损害的一个关键因素。 The Ombudsman found no individual misconduct but cited systemic under-resourcing as a key factor in compromised child protection efforts. 2024年10月,McCartney因多项罪行,包括过失杀人和煽动儿童从事性活动等非法行为,被判处至少20年徒刑。 McCartney was sentenced in October 2024 to a minimum of 20 years in prison for multiple offenses, including unlawful act manslaughter and inciting children to sexual activity.