Facebook makes U-turn and allows family of missing schoolboy to access his account
The social media giant had previously refused access to his parents who were anxious to check his most recent messages
FACEBOOK is now helping police in the search for a missing schoolboy who was "bored of his life" after initially refusing his parents access to their son's account to check his last messages.
It has been more than two months since 15-year-old Arthur Heeler-Frood went missing from Axminster in Devon.
The pupil left the family home in Devon on September 6 with £350, leaving behind his mobile phone, passport and bank cards.
He posted a letter to his parents explaining that he was bored with life but promised to be back within a year.
His that he had been on Facebook the previous night.
Mr and Mrs Heeler-Frood have been anxious to get access to their son's Facebook account to see whether it gives any clues to his disappearance.
It is understood that Facebook is now assisting Devon and Cornwall Police and charity Missing People in the hunt for Arthur.
But MPs have accused the social media website of obstructing police investigations and called for laws to enforce social media companies to release data that can help in searches for missing people - jailing bosses who won't comply.
Labour MP John Mann, who serves on the Treasury select committee, told : “It should be a criminal offence for Facebook to refuse to help the British police.
“Facebook executives ought to be jailed for this.
“It is quite extraordinary a large company like this is refusing to help the British police do their job, and I would urge the police to consider charging them with obstructing police in the course of their duties.”
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Former Home Secretary Jack Straw added: “Facebook, like other internet behemoths, is infected by a weird ideology which places ‘privacy’ – aka commercial advantage – above the safety of children. It is highly irresponsible.”
Last week Ms Heeler-Frood told : “The police have not been able to access any of his Facebook posts.
"Despite requests, Facebook has not been forthcoming.
"We have written about half a dozen letters directly and there has been no reply. I feel that this is an issue of child safety and this should take precedence over privacy.”
Devon and Cornwall police confirmed that the American-based company had declined its request to investigate Arthur’s use of the social media site the night before he disappeared.
But Facebook has now said that it was helping the police and had provided what was requested.
Police cannot force Facebook to release communications although the company responds to requests case by case.
Ms Heeler-Frood previously suggested that Arthur might have been influenced by George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London, which he had been reading as one of his school’s recommended texts. This famous part-memoir recounts how Orwell lived on the breadline.
He was also a fan of survival TV star Bear Grylls, and had seen his elder brother Reuben and sister Hester travelling through Europe in the summer.
“I think he was hungry for a bit of adventure,” his mum said.
“But it is very hard for us.
"Obviously his letter indicated that he had planned his departure very carefully but after that we have had absolutely no information. There have been no CCTV sightings, nothing.”
Ms Heeler-Frood said school friends indicated that Arthur had been talking about Orwell’s book the day before he disappeared.
But she added:“We do not really know his intentions.
"Or what sort of situation he might place himself in — 15-year-old boys can be reckless and he lacked a bit of emotional maturity.
"He was a bit over-confident, a bit naive, and being the youngest, was always keen to keep up.”
Ms Heeler-Frood, who lives with her husband, Jeremy, near Axminster, Devon, said she thought that her son had become anxious at the departure of his sister Hester, 18, for university.
“He was not looking forward to being the only one [child] at home,” she said. “He did not want to hang out with his parents. It is quite isolated where we live and the catchment area for the school is large so his friends are spread out.
"He does not have many really close friends.”
Arthur had just started his A Levels at Colyton Grammar school in Devon.
The school is a state-funded, co-educational grammar rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted in three successive reports.
Headteacher, Tim Harris, said: "We are helping the police in the search for Arthur.
"He is a bright, popular and sociable boy who has just got outstanding GCSE results this summer and has just started his A-levels.
"We urge Arthur to make contact with his family to let them know he is safe and well."
Police have asked for anyone who may have employed Arthur, provided him with accommodation or transport to get in touch.
Superintendent Sam de Reya said: “We are appealing to business owners, likely to be restaurateurs, hoteliers and café owners, who may have had a young man work for them in the past few months.”
He is described as white, 5ft 4in, of slight build with short light brown hair. Information can be passed to police by calling 101 or emailing 101@dc.police.ukquoting log 255 of September 14.
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