Children shown virtual police presence

In a new crackdown on child sex abuse children will be shown how to use virtual police in a new campaign that is designed to educate them against the dangers they face when using the internet. The new education campaign will be going into schools, foster homes and other youth environments across the UK.

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 are now just a few clicks away from being able to report instances of inappropriate contact to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre who, in turn, will investigate, arrest and ultimately bring to account any offenders.

The programme will be delivered in schools by over 1,000 police officers, teachers and child protection teams. It is intended that around one million children will have attended specially prepared safety first sessions by March 2007 backed up by online resources. Subsequent phases will roll out on an ongoing basis.

Jim Gamble, chief executive of the CEOP Centre explains the rationale: “The internet is now integral to the lives of our children. 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.

“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, ‘let’s work together in cracking down on this horrendous crime’.”

Vernon Coaker, government minister with specific responsibility for this area of criminality commented: “The government is determined to do everything it can to protect children from the predatory paedophiles, including those that use the internet and other communication technologies.

“Launched earlier this year, the CEOP Centre continues to spearhead the government`s ongoing work to protect children from sexual abuse while conducting proactive investigations with the police and authorities around the world. We welcome the education programme and are supporting it through an online and radio advertising campaign.”

All materials in the education pack – including online resources – have been designed by police and child protection specialists, with input from the CEOP Centre’s dedicated youth panel.