Operational Policing
Child Protection
The Internet Task Force for Child Protection on the Internet aims to make the UK the best and safest place in the world for children to use the internet, and to help protect children the world over from abuse fuelled by criminal misuse of new technologies.
The following have been created to help keep children safe on the internet:
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thinkuknow.co.uk (new window) – a website for young people full of information about staying safe online
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Good Practice Models and Guidance for the Industry, January 2003 – January 2003
Guidance on chat rooms, instant messaging and web-based services that encourages clear safety messages and advice, and user-friendly ways of reporting abuse.
Following a public awareness campaign in January 2004, the website and the leaflet for parents were updated.
- Home Secretary's Task Force On Child Protection On The Internet: Meeting 2 March 2006 Summary Note
- Home Secretary's Task Force On Child Protection On The Internet: Meeting 28 October 2005 Summary Note
- Home Secretary's Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet: Meeting 6 July 2005 Summary Note
- Home Secretary's Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet: Meeting 23 February 2005 Summary Note
Background
The task force was established in March 2001 in response to a report by the Internet Crime Forum.
The report made several recommendations for protecting children on the Internet, including:
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improved supervision of chat rooms
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better display of safety messages
Chaired by the Home Office Minister Paul Goggins, the task force is a partnership among:
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representatives of the Internet industry
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child welfare organisations
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the Police
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and Government.
UK EU Presidency Conference "Protecting Children Online"
In November 2005, the Home Office along with Virtual Global Taskforce (new window) organised a joint UK EU Presidency/VGT "Protecting Children Online" Conference. The event brought together representatives from law enforcement, government, industry and NGOs from around the world. View Conference outcomes booklet.
Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre
The Centre was launched on 24 April 2006. The Centre provides a single point of contact for the public, law enforcers and the communications industry to report targeting of children online and offers advice and information to parents and potential victims of abuse 24 hours a day. It is based in London and will have up to 100 staff. It will also carry out proactive investigations and work with police forces around the world to protect children. They have a full web presence at www.ceop.gov.uk (new window)
G8 Justice and Interior Ministers Meeting
The G8 Justice and Interior Ministers met on 24 May 2007 to discuss combatting childpornography. The meeting resulted in a ministers declaration on ‘reinforcing the international fight against child pornography’ (new window).
