Monday November 6, 2006
Children across Wales to be shown how to use virtual police presence in new crackdown on child sex abuse
250,000 young people across Wales are amongst the first to be taught how to use a new virtual police service as the battle against child sex abuse gathers pace.
The UK's dedicated organisation focused on tackling child sex abuse the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre - today launched in Cardiff a "have fun, stay in control, know how to report" education campaign that will be going into schools, foster homes and other youth environments across Wales as well as England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
It is intended that all children in Wales between the ages of 11 - 15 years will have attended specially prepared safety first sessions by the end of the current academic year.
The programme - called ThinkuKnow - will focus on online safety and is the first campaign that has not only been designed by an amalgamation of police, child protection specialists, industry and children themselves but which also introduces a dedicated online reporting mechanism. That means children can report any instances of inappropriate online contact at www.thinkuknow.net.
As a result children of all ages are now just a few clicks away from being able to report instances of inappropriate contact to the CEOP Centre who in turn will investigate, arrest and ultimately bring to account any offenders.
The programme will be delivered in schools by over 1000 police officers, teachers and child protection teams and will offer an interactive package that will explore online experiences, look at issues such as social networking, gaming sites and more traditional chat rooms and offer vital - safety first - advice to children, young people and their parents.
Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of the CEOP Centre explains the rationale:
The internet is now integral to the lives of our children. It is omnipresent and in many households now acts as a new member of each family. Yet for many parents what their children are doing online is a mystery. Children themselves however continue to push the boundaries with possibilities that are almost endless. So let’s be realistic. The internet will not go away and we encourage everyone to use it and maximise it for all the legitimate opportunities it creates.
But where children go then the predator will follow and in the same way as we safeguard our playgrounds, our parks, our streets, we must secure in whatever way possible the public place that is the internet.
Empowering children is one critical way of doing that. Saying to them have fun, while making them aware of the dangers and allowing them to walk into a virtual police environment if they feel threatened makes massive sense. It is a simple approach but one that is vital and if used in the right way - as recent investigations have shown - will allow us to protect children in a way that is proactive, dynamic and above all powerful in bringing the offender to account.
So our message is clear. We are encouraging a - can do with caution rather than a can’t do because of fear approach and saying to children and young people of all ages, and their parents, lets work together in cracking down on this horrendous crime.
For the potential offender our message is even simpler. As this programme rolls out you will not know if the person you are grooming is now alert to the dangers and only a few clicks away from reporting you to us. That should make anyone think again.
Jane Davidson, Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills at the National Assembly for Wales commented:
I am extremely pleased to help launch CEOPs ThinkUKnow education programme for schools in Wales. I am committed to ensuring that ICT is used effectively to enhance teaching and learning and to ensure that children and young people have the necessary skills to equip for life beyond the school gates.
All materials in the education pack - including online resources - have been designed by police and child protection specialists as well as input from the CEOP Centre’s dedicated youth panel. The pack includes hard hitting education films, teachers’ packs and online resources at www.thinkuknow.net.
Subsequent phases of thinkuknow will roll out on an ongoing basis.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. The education programme - ThinkuKnow - is being rolled out to schools, foster homes, youth clubs and other environments on a region-by-region basis and will initially be focused on engagement with 1 million children across Wales, England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The package will include both online and offline resources and all children are being encouraged to visit www.thinkuknow.net with their parents where they will find safety first advice as well as the online reporting mechanism.
Facts and Figures
- 75% of children and young people aged between 9-19 years have internet access at home
- 92% of children and young people aged between 9-19 years have internet access at school
- 84% of children and young people aged between 9-19 years use the internet at least weekly
- 1 in 12 children have met someone offline who they initially engaged with online
- 31% of young people have received unwanted sexual comment online or by text message though only 7% of parents are aware that their child has received such material.
Reference: Livingstone and Bober (2005)
- Internet access in the bedroom is more common amongst children and young people aged 12-15 years compared to 8-11 years.
- Girls aged between 12-15 years are more likely to have access in their bedrooms compared to boys of the same age
- 1 in 5 children researched say they have set up their own website
Reference: OfCom Media Literacy Audit (2006)
2. The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre is a law enforcement agency and works in both online and offline environments. Full information on all areas of work as well as online safety messages and access to online reporting can be found at www.ceop.gov.uk or for children at www.thinkuknow.net.
For further information including interview requests: Clive Michel, Head of Communications and Public Affairs, Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, 0870 000 3434