The multifaceted nature of paedophile activity online presents challenges to those who want to combat it. The Child Abuse, Child Pornography and the Internet report, released last week by NCH, aimed to increase understanding of the extent of paedophile activity online, and sparked controversy over its use of specific statistics.
Monitoring parts of the internet with high paedophile activity indicates that these communities continue to be populated by UK-based adults and adolescents. And there is every indication this population is expanding.
Responses to the report have highlighted how the resources of many computer crime units throughout the UK are over-stretched in investigating crimes relating to child abuse images that occurred in the case of, for example, Operation Ore, more than three years ago.
The majority of police resources are allocated to investigating a limited number of cases, which effectively precludes the opportunity to monitor paedophile communities in real time. A government review of the management and deployment of manpower, training and resources to computer crime units is urgently required.
Tackling criminal activity online needs to incorporate initiatives such as education and awareness raising, designed to equip potential victims with the tools and skills they need to safely navigate online environments.
In recognition of this, the Institute of Public Policy and Research in partnership with the Associa tion of Chief of Police Officers have organised a seminar this month to explore and devise mechanisms to ensure that evidence-based practice is a driving force behind crime prevention strategies employed in educational settings.
Also in the news this week is the welcome concord between the UK mobile phone operators who on Monday announced a joint code of practice for the self-regulation of new forms of content on mobile phones.
Britain's mobile phone networks have signed up to the code, designed to aid the responsible use of new services while safeguarding children from unsuitable content. Parents and carers will be able to apply filters to the operator's internet access service so that content is restricted. This is encouraging.
Crucially, activities such as tak ing and sending pictures via mobile phones will not be subject to monitoring.
However, in a small number of instances paedophiles may encourage potential victims to record and send pictures of themselves for nefarious purposes.
In addition, requests for information about, for example, a child's location sent via non mobile operator-based chat services will not be monitored. A child who divulges specific location information could be at greater risk from paedophiles.
Therefore, it is imperative that effective programmes of education are developed which are designed to empower young people, parents carers and teachers with the tools knowledge and skills to navigate both the fixed and mobile internet safely.
