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Schools and libraries have been told to remove popular children’s books from their shelves after a pornography website hijacked a web address printed inside.
The link found inside Andrew Cope’s Spy Dog, Spy Cat and Spy Pups series previously directed children to more information about the books, but has now been found to redirect them to adult content.
Publisher Puffin, which is part of Penguin Random House, said it had “immediately stopped” sales of the books and contacted Library They have to be removed.
The books, aimed at seven to 12-year-olds, featured animals using gadgets to capture robbers and solve crimes and puzzles.
Several schools have also contacted parents to inform them about the explicit content, and advised them to “immediately remove them” from their children.
Guardian A school in West Sussex has reportedly written to parents: “We have been made aware of a safety alert linked to the children’s book series Spy Dog/Pups & Spy Cat by author Andrew Cope.
“These books contain a link to a website to learn more about the character (identified on the previous or inside page). This link has now been compromised and takes users to a pornographic website without any age verification.”
A statement released by Cope and Puffin said: “In some editions of the Spy Dog, Spy Cat and Spy Pups series, there is a reference to writer Andrew Cope’s former website for the series, which was owned and managed by him.
“We understand that an unaffiliated third party recently took control of the domain name and is using it to display a separate website with inappropriate adult content.
“This website is not associated with Puffin or Andrew Cope. We are asking people not to visit the website and are ensuring that children do not visit it.
“We are taking this extremely seriously and are taking immediate action on this issue through appropriate channels to remove this website.
“This is a thorough and complex legal process and will take time. We have immediately halted the sale and distribution of the books while we deal with this matter.”