North Wales Police are taking the lead in child protection on the internet.
The Hi-tech Crime Unit recently held their second conference in Police Headquarters in Colwyn Bay when experts in the field of child protection were given an insight into the issues and dangers of use of the internet.
The conference showed how North Wales Police is working with various agencies to underpin and support various campaigns highlighted by the government.
Mike Gallienne, formerly of the Hi-tech Crime Unit, explained: “There is a naivety within professionals in the field and the public and we are working to raise the profile to ensure that people are aware of the dangers involved with using the internet.”
And with an input from TV presenter and former detective involved with child protection, Mark Williams -Thomas, those present were made aware that the internet is safe, but it is also a very dangerous place.
Mark, who presented the ITV series “To catch a paedophile”, and who has worked on high profile cases including the Sarah Payne murder investigation, and the Shannon Matthews investigation, explained that the internet affords people opportunities they never had before.
“The internet is the new playground for paedophiles around the world,” he said adding: “Paedophiles are incurable; therefore we must work with them to understand them.”
He went on to highlight the problems of social networking, and pointed out that one in four children are solicited sexually while on the internet and nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults occur on children aged 17 and under.
“We all need to be aware of the dangers the internet poses and we have got to talk to children about who presents the greatest risk.”
“I got involved in this field because I wanted to make a difference – if I can change one child’s life then I will feel better.”
DC Meirion Davies of the Hi-tech Crime Unit went on to illustrate how all the social networks, including the gaming network and the chat facilities work.
He stated that children as young as four years of age can chat about whatever they want and that anyone can be involved in file sharing networks.
